Marc Copland: Alone

The internationally recognized jazz pianist presents an intimate musical portrait, revealing a bit of his soul with tender interpretations of such tunes as Mal Waldron's opening "Soul Eyes," "I Should Care" from Sammy Cahn, and Branislaw Kaper's "Hi Li Hi Lo." He does include a few of his own compositions, the most ambitious being a lengthy rendition of the title track from his Night Whispers trilogy, with "Into The Silence" and "Blackboard" completing the pianist's contribution of original material.

Alone's unexpected surprise is the inclusion of three songs from Canadian singer/songwriter and folk-rock pioneer, Joni Mitchell, whose music has often been considered intricate and unconventional. Copland's interpretations of Mitchell's "I Don't Know Where I Stand," "Rainy Night House," and "Michael From Mountain," are airy and melancholic yet lush and almost powerful at the same time. There are no quick shifting key-vamps, funky rhythms, or blood-rushing electric piano passages; Alone offers gentler tonal language, allowing Copland to share a more personal musical experience. Soft, mellow, and light are all appropriate adjectives to describe the music found here.

Comments