My recent posting of Behrouz Jamali's extraordinary film about Alexander Toradze produced a couple of comments so extraordinary that I'm re-posting them here. The first is from David Bondy, an attorney who was once in artists' management: I too have been mesmerized by Toradze’s recording of the Prokofiev 2. The first movement unfolds like no one else’s. Others who tackle … [Read more...] about Toradze’s Piano Stories — Take Two
Dvorak’s Prophecy — “Essential Cultural History”
Kirkus Reviews, which previews books for booksellers, critics, and others in the know, has just previewed my forthcoming Dvorak’s Prophecy and the Vexed Fate of Black Classical Music. It’s been accorded a star (good news) – and the review itself grasps my book whole. In summary: “Horowitz closes with a clarion call for American classical music to ‘acquire a viable … [Read more...] about Dvorak’s Prophecy — “Essential Cultural History”
Art Tatum and the “Black Virtuoso Tradition”
On the heels of his film with Alexander Toradze (my previous blog), Behrouz Jamali has released another remarkable film essay dealing with the art of the piano: The Black Virtuoso Tradition. It features what the New York Times once called “piano playing at its most awesome”: Steven Mayer playing Art Tatum. The Black Virtuoso Tradition is an American … [Read more...] about Art Tatum and the “Black Virtuoso Tradition”
Toradze’s Piano Stories
Behrouz Jamali has created the kind of film I had always hoped to see about Alexander Toradze. I permits Toradze to speak for an hour without abridgement or abbreviation. It abjures soundbites. I believe it should be seen by all devotees of the piano, and to fledgling pianists at music schools and conservatories. Born in Tbilisi in 1952, Toradze graduated from … [Read more...] about Toradze’s Piano Stories
Savage Beauty — Take two
Three months ago I blogged about Min Xiao-fen’s exceptional new recording, “White Lotus,” in which her pipa is mated with Rez Abbasi’s guitar. The music comes from her soundtrack to a classic Chinese silent film: "The Goddess." I’m delighted to see that NPR has now done an enterpirising seven-minute feature. Here’s an excerpt: ABBASI: And there is that scene [in "The … [Read more...] about Savage Beauty — Take two