Gonzales

Solo Piano (Sunnyside)

By Marisa Iacobucci
Published: April 27th, 2007 | 2:42pm

The success of Gonzales’ Solo Piano lies in its simplicity, especially if you’re a sucker for quiet and delicate piano pieces. This album consists of sixteen short piano pieces, and they form a collection of some of the most unforgettable and moving piano pieces heard in a while. You can definitely hear the impressionist musical styles of Satie, Debussy, and Ravel in these works as they merge with folk and jazz influences to create Gonzales’ unique creations.

Gonzales is originally from Canada, but a lot of people will recognize Gonzales as the Berlin underground DJ turned Paris-based composer and producer collaborating with the likes of Daft Punk and other electronic acts. He worked on Feist’s Let it Die album with his partner Renaud Letang and branched out on his own to focus on his solo piano work and to perform his famous piano concerts across Europe in “Piano Vision,” a video installation by Berlin artist Ninja Pleasure in which Gonzales’ hands were projected on a long screen above his head in real time. From Major to Minor, a DVD of some of Gonzales’ live concerts in “Piano Vision” projection, will be released in May of 2007.

Play these pieces during a quiet evening at home for a contemplative and relaxing time or load them up on your iPod and take them on walks with you and see how they become the soundtrack of your life. Listen to Solo Piano and you’ll be hooked on Gonzales’ musical mind. Wherever his musical journeys take him, follow Gonzales’ piano hands.