Jace Vëk Live with the Royal Sylvan Philharmonic

Label: World Class Entertainment
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Live
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 837101026277
EAN: 0837101026277
ASIN: B0008EJZ0Y

Release Date: 2005-03-22

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Tracks:

The Last Sunrise
Gate C-61
Romance
Brooke's Lullaby
Sarabande Rhapsody
Lorilei
Circa 1990
Jennifer's Largo
Thadet Variations

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant, insightful, profound.......2006-05-03

I have listened to this recording many, many times, and never do I tire of it. I find it a very intelligent and moving collection of compositions. One that is timeless, and mingles with a select company of music from the genius of great classical composers. The album is a perfect blend of tradition with contemporary flair. The only better listen of this music could be experienced live, which I admit; I have had the great pleasure of hearing at a concert given at Nemacolin Woodlands. I expect a plethora of brilliant music created by this young man in coming years, and so I should.

from Solo Piano Publications.......2005-03-30

Jace Vek's second release is a stunning collection of fully orchestrated original compositions with Vek at the piano in concert with the Royal Sylvan Philharmonic Orchestra. Several of the nine tracks are orchestrated versions of piano solos from Vek's debut release, "Vision," which was one of my "Top 10" favorites for 2001. As good as "Vision" was and is, "Live" shows a remarkable amount of artistic growth and maturity. The orchestrations are full and passionate, and bring out Vek's virtuosity on the piano rather than drowning him out. This is one of the rare CDs that I can listen to over and over and still think, "Wow!" At 32, I'm sure Jace Vek is on his way to a bright and illustrious career!

The CD opens with "The Last Sunrise," a lovely, almost ambient composition with shifting time signatures and a piano line that seems to float above the fluid strings. The piece builds in grandeur as more of the orchestra comes in, bringing it to a climax, and then it drifts off as gently as it began. "Sarabande Rhapsody" is pure joy. Based on Handel's "Sarabande," one of my favorite classical teaching pieces, these variations are true to the original work, but update it. I'm sure Handel is smiling from his heaven! A very "big" arrangement, it is obvious that the orchestra members are having a lot of fun with the give and take between themselves and Vek at the piano. Bravo! "Circa 1990" begins with a swirling piano solo that repeats itself a few times within the piece while the orchestra (mostly oboe and strings) weaves a beautiful counterpoint. "Gate C-61 and Romance" are two separate tracks that melt into each other. Powerful and yet soothing, the richness of these pieces is a thrill. "Lorilei" is a gorgeous composition with cinematic qualities. The passion and interplay between the piano and orchestra clearly show why synthesizer will never replace "real" instruments or the musicians behind them. "Brooke's Lullaby" is a very sweet piece that sparkles in its simple, heartfelt love. "Jennifer's Largo" is lighter and dreamier, with a wistful sort of melancholy. "Thadet Variations" is perhaps Vek's most ambitious work to date. It also appeared on "Vision" as three separate tracks. Inspired by lying in the grass one evening and looking up at the sky, "thadet" is a Finnish word meaning "sky full of stars." Coming from a profound musical moment in Vek's life, the piece is about being immersed in and open to the vastness of the celestial universe. A musical marvel, the piece clearly demonstrates Vek's range as a pianist and composer, going from a light and tinkling sparkle in the upper registers of the piano to thunderous octave runs, from a soft gentleness to full-on bravado and everything in between.

Jace Vek has outdone himself with this new release! It is contemporary piano with full symphonic treatment at its best. Very highly recommended!

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