Jazz Articles about Eric Olsen

About Eric Olsen

Album Review

Eric Olsen ReVision Quartet: Sea Changes

Read "Sea Changes" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
February 29, 2016

Sophisticated pianist Eric Olsen explores the western classical canon from a jazzman's perspective on the charming and delightful Sea Changes. The several selections on the disc span the range from Georges Bizet's “Carmen" to Olivier Messiaen and Jean Sibelius' modernistic compositions.Olsen's charismatic and unique interpretations mark the album with his signature elegance and forms a common thread through it. From the hard boppish rendition of the traditional Irish hymn °Be Now My Vision" to the vibrant performance of ...

Album Review

Eric Olsen ReVision Quartet: Sea Changes

Read "Sea Changes" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
January 5, 2016

Many classical-jazz crossover projects come off as half-baked exercises in compromise, uncomfortable in the attempt of marriage and painful to observe. This one doesn't. Pianist Eric Olsen put together a first-rate foursome--the aptly-named ReVision Quartet--to perform revamped takes on the music of Jean Sibelius, Frederic Chopin, Georges Bizet, and Olivier Messiaen, among others. His artful arrangements take note of the source material without simply recycling it, his band mates do a fine job of navigating their way through these pieces, ...