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David Lopato: Many Moons
By"Swing Trades" opens the collection, and is aptly titled, as it moves back and forth from a distinctive boogie rhythm to dissonance. Lopato employs a similar method of exchanging and comingling different styles on "Inside You" and "No Visa," the latter moving closer to a free jazz approach. In both cases, Lopato introduces the tune with straightforward, almost sparse phrasing before layering on far more complexity. "Piano Roll I," which in part, pays respect to John Cage, is the most openly free piece in the collection, and is influenced by the very different dynamics of player and prepared pianos.
The very brief "Fly Brook" and "Unrequited Love" incorporate an Americana folk element, the first piece being an expression of Lopato's fondness for bluegrass music. Another of his more personal compositions is "Brooklyn," a bluesy reflection on Lopato's childhood home and his subsequent sense of detachment from it. "The Big Bad Wolf Ain't So Bad After All" starts out as a rag and continues Lopato's drawing on personal aspects of his life for musical inspiration.
After exploring some of these more traditional styles, Lopato revisits more of his melodic phrases infused with free improvisation on "African Village." This particular piece being influenced by Lopato's exposure to the same Ewe folk music of Ghana which had inspired much of royal hartigan's Blood Drum Spirit. The collection closes with "Peace March," a reverential excerpt from Lopato's "Suite 9/11." The parts may be greater than the sum on Many Moons, but it's possible that it needs to be the case when spanning more than thirty years of original compositions. It's an impressive display of Lopato's talents as a musician and composer.
Track Listing
Swing Trades; Inside You; Fly Brook; Unrequited Love; No Visa; Reflexology; Brooklyn; The Big Bad Wolf Ain't So Bad After All; Wishing Willie Well; African Village; Piano Roll 1; Peace March.
Personnel
David Lopato
pianoDavid Lopato: piano.
Album information
Title: Many Moons | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Self Produced
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