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Mathias Claus

Solo Jazz Pianist Mathias Claus

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Short Review by Joan Lynch, Texas, USA (Perfect Caravan) - Mathias Claus is a composer, pianist and producer residing in Germany. He grew up as a live jazz pianist with a propensity towards utilization of electronic instruments such as electronic synthesizers, samplers and keyboards. After studies at the famous Berklee College of Music in Boston / USA he graduated as a jazz pianist from Musikhochschule Hamburg, Germany. His studies included training on classical piano techniques and theory. Mathias Claus has developed his own computer based online studio and focuses on collaboration recordings with musicians of the online jazzscene worldwide, soon becoming one of it's acknowledged leaders. With several CDs released, Mathias contributes as global guest player on numerous artists' CDs worldwide. Mathias always creates new frontiers in music with his extensive variety of styles that are able to cover almost any genre.

Recent release, CD Best of 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival 2009, as found on itunes, amazon, cduniverse, cdbaby. # 133 of the US jazz radio play charts february 2010.

Reviews:

Howard Mandel, New York, president of the Jazz Journalists Association, senior contributor to Down Beat magazine: ”Mathias Claus, Bob Albanese and Ayako Shirasaki are devoted, virtuosic, daring and expressive pianists, who together assured that personal, spontaneous interpretation of classic repertoire was the focus of the 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival. Best of 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival 2009 institutes a high standard for international solo jazz piano. …”

Cadence Magazine, USA “This recording is a thoroughly enjoyable tribute to mainstream Jazz solo piano. Truly international—Claus is German, Albanese American, and Shirasaki Japanese—the session celebrates the Jazz of mid-century America. “Lennie’s Pennies” opens with a chorus of “Pennies from Heaven” done in old-time fashion stride before slipping into the Tristano head; heady territory to light upon, but she -Ayako Shirasaki- handles it with admirable aplomb obviously echoing Tristano’s own solo style in spots, but moving far, far beyond imitation. The performance is an ebullient end to a party for piano lovers.” David Dupont. ©Cadence Magazine 2010. www.cadencebuilding.com ph: 315-287-2852

ejazznews.com, USA “Three master pianists and three extraordinary performances in one striking musical package, the Best of 1st International Jazz Solo Piano Festival 2009 is a must recording for jazz aficionados with an appreciation of classical jazz. Mathias Claus, Bob Albanese and Ayako Shirasaki transform the beauty solo piano with superb technique and unquestioned talent reflective in the graceful music this first festival has produced.” Edward Blanco.

Scott Yanow, USA - CD reviews for the Los Angeles jazz scene Mathias Claus from Germany, American Bob Albanese and Ayako Shirasaki from Japan combined together to perform solo piano sets during three concerts in Germany. While none are household names, all are brilliant pianists who have no difficulty playing without bass or drums. Each are modern soloists who fit into the modern mainstream, being aware of the past without copying any of their historic predecessors. This live CD has three selections apiece from each of the pianists. Mathias Claus performs inventive versions of his “Hymn For The Old Souls,” “Old Folks” and “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise,” expertly exploring a variety of moods in a well-constructed mini set full of lyricism, thoughtful moments and impressive technique. Bob Albanese plays a light swinging stride on a delightful version of “Manhattan,” digs into Bill Evans' “Time Remembered” and displays fire on “Morning Nocturne.” Good as those two pianists are, Ayako Shirasaki takes honors. On a playful rendition of Dizzy Gillespie's “Con Alma,” she displays her classical training. She sounds joyful on a waltz version of “Someday My Prince Will Come” and starts “Lennie's Pennies” with two happy choruses of “Pennies From Heaven” before evolving into the darker Lennie Tristano line. There is lots to enjoy throughout this superior release, available from www.jazzsolopianofestival.com. All three pianists deserve to be well known in the jazz world and hopefully there will be many more releases in this series as rewarding as this one.

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