Name: Tyler Rice by Tyler Rice
Brand: Tyler Rice
SKU: 669910741825
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (84 reviews)

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Tyler Rice hasn't gotten as lucky as Euge Groove (who built a huge online following before last year's debut), but the keyboardist still received enough interest from the MP3 website to motivate him to independently release this chipper, easy to enjoy self-released debut. Rice's easy going mix of ballads and optimistic light funk pieces makes for in the pocket smooth jazz -- if short on true innovation, they're long on catchy hooks that radio will no doubt love. Rice -- who takes care of the bass and drum duties as well -- does show a clever penchant for interesting conversations between an array of synth sounds and the purity of an acoustic piano. The bouncy "Copycat" threads a call and response melody throughout, a playful ivory riff followed by an echoing brassy synth line. He then continues the pattern on a lively improvisational section that includes a few bars from "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Although very much a pop-minded instrumentalist, the throbbing "Daybreak" has a mix of synth horns and jamming piano lines that speak a few words of Latin. Typical of his elegant romantic style are "Deja Vu" (which complements a lush acoustic line with Kevin Toney-like synth enhancements) and the mystical "Guardian Angel," which features Yanni-like heaven bound synth string enhancements. Perhaps in a twist of irony, the track called "Serenity" features one of the most hypnotic and exotic rhythm grooves and inventive piano dances above the punchy bassline. ~ Jonathan Widran