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Freestyle Piano Solo Improvisations
Classical - Jazz - NewAge - Fusion Piano
(Pick your own category.)
Embrace the Noodle
(What IS noodling?)
| albums: |
| streaming |
| GRANDnoodler |
| noodler |
Herewith, the now-finished album, Grand Noodler. This second online album
was recorded on the Knabe baby grand, but in "stereo mix" instead of true stereo.
Liner notes and album cover are below.
| Liner Notes | MP3 files are again available as free download |
| Slop Grand Piano 1 6.9MB • 4:50 |
Note: Slop Piano is not a "noodle," but more of a bit of fun as a warmup. For the best example of a "noodle," try track 3.
Tentatively titled Slop Grand Piano 1 (see previous Slop Piano tracks in the Noodler album), this particular Slop is relentlessly... happy. Must be the new keyboard. "Slop Piano" is just pure enjoyment of playing, and the more cracks hit, the better. It's all about fun. (September 9, 2007) |
| September 1, Part 1 17MB: 12:19 |
Knabe, Day Two ... Levels are much better on the recording, although it's still the same piano player. Real stream-of-consciousness. More "Let's see what this baby can do." Still, some tasty bits in there... (September 1, 2007) |
| September 1, Part 2 19.3MB • 14:02 |
Two distinct movements. The first explores a simple theme that sounds like it would be at home in Eastern Europe. The last eight minutes is a heavily classical-inspired improv, far more indicative of where I'm going with all of this. A strong classical foundation, peppered with modern sounds and rhythms. The last minute and a half is a blast. May be my best work to date, can't stop listening to it. (September 1, 2007) |
| latenite 8.5MB • 6:04 |
Here's a sample track, recorded late on the night the Knabe arrived, when others in the house were sleeping. I don't think that this "style" is typical of my playing, but I do enjoy it. "latenite" is, by necessity, very New Agey. And it shows that I need to once again rework my recording levels and mic placement. Very quiet, very pretty, and all done by layering an A Major chord atop a G Major base. (August 30, 2007) |
| hammers 7.2MB • 5:00 |
I like the percussive quality of the instrument, and this is the sort of rhythmic exercise that I frequently enjoy. "Hammer time." Available only as part of Streaming. (October 2, 2007) |
| October 2, 2007 17.8MB • 12:38 |
October 2, 2007: I consider this track to be my best work, to date. Full of lush, classical-sounding themes and motifs, really more of what I want out of these improvisations. (October 2, 2007) |
| October 3, 2007 14MB • 9:56 |
Another in the same vein, yet so different. (October 3, 2007) |
| dribble 15MB • 10:37 |
Übersweet tinklings, very easy to listen to. Titled "dribble," in my own sense of humor, but a lovely piece. (October 5, 2007) |
(grand.jpg)
Don't miss the out-takes,
Toad Cuts - Warts and all
(below)
Like what you hear? Would you like to know when new tracks are available?
25.8MB • 18:31
for Toad Cuts and your iPods.
My first album, Noodler, is now closed. The last track, Meanderings, puts an end to Noodler and the end of an era. My beautiful little Baldwin studio upright has been retired, now with its new owner. My wife has upgraded me to a Knabe baby grand, which was delivered August 30, 2007.
To be clear: when I sit down to play, there is no sheet music, no preconceived lines; what comes out comes out. While purely improvisational in nature, the music is shaped to resemble a "finished" work. You'll understand, I hope, when I get lost in the music and find myself restarting.
If the music, at first, sounds like classical piano, that's my training. As a Gemini myself, I enjoy the duality of the piano and forte, classical and rock/jazz rhythms, slow and fast. And as a classically trained musician, I marvelled at those who can take a note or two and fill an entire evening, and aspired to gain this ability.
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