Carol Lian, although principally recognized as a classical pianist, has moved back and forth between the jazz and classical formats, perhaps not as much as some of her contemporaries such as Keith Jarrett or Andre Previn. Nonetheless, she made two albums of completely improvisational music with jazz drummer Ronnie Bedford. These two albums, although having classical overtones, must be jazz since they are entirely extemporaneous, created as the two instrumentalists played. One does not improvise with a classical piece much beyond appending a cadenza here or an arpeggio there, or playing the piece faster or slower than marked. Even on this album, which is predominately in the classical mode, there is a nod to jazz with a composition of just more than four minutes by Jack Reilly, a jazz pianist of no mean repute. The opening and closing pieces, "Prologue" and "Epilogue," are also entirely improvisational. And, of course, the George Gershwin "Preludes for Piano" have a jazzy touch to them. All the pieces on this CD are for unaccompanied piano. Lian shows a sensitive touch and outstanding technical and interpretive qualities. On the strictly classical side, the sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti, usually performed on harpsichord, are happy and free-spirited. This is a very satisfactory and well-conceived CD by a pianist who sits astride two major musical worlds and displays equal facility in each. Recommended.
© TiVo