The award-winning and classical trained pianist Meral Guneyman, along with the iconic jazz arranger, composer and pianist Dick Hyman, present Danzas Tropicales, a fluid collection of piano compositions dedicated to Latin dance rhythms. Guneyman and Hyman create a sound which captures a signature blend of Latin fervor and sophisticated elegance. Danzas Tropicales features an array of lively rhythms, ranging from the original title piece, composed by Hyman himself, to an exciting spectrum of Latin-American classics spanning the past century, including interpretations of Garota De Ipanema (Girl From Ipanema) and Manha De Carnaval.
We dived into the world of Tango Nuevo, Bossa Nova and Samba, and found great enjoyment in performing these popular but challenging dance rhythms. Of course, to begin with, we were dealing with beautiful compositions by Astor Piazzolla, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luis Bonfa, Ernesto Nazareth, and in particular, Pablo Ziegler, who became our friend and adviser in the preparation of this album. In addition, there was Dick Hyman's remarkable concert piece, Danzas Tropicales, which gave us our album title. Dick is also responsible for the deft arrangements of many of the titles, states Meral Guneyman.
This album follows their critically-acclaimed Ryko debut, Playful Virtuosity. JAZZWISE MAGAZINE claimed that Meral Guneyman possesses an exquisite touch, immense power and a formidable technique, while JAZZ TIMES said, It is hard to imagine another piano couple offering the vast shimmering coordinated pointillismwaterfalls of romanticism.
About Meral Guneyman Pianist Meral Guneyman made her orchestral debut in the United States under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, and became the first prize winner of the Buffalo Harmonic Orchestras Young Artists Competition. She was then promptly re-engaged by Tilson Thomas to play the Schumann Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony. She made her Carnegie Hall debut as winner of the East & West Artists International Competition. After winning the prestigious William Kappell International Competition at the University of Maryland, she performed with Leon Fleischer and the Baltimore Symphony. Her accolades include winner of the Juilliard Schools Chopin Concerto Competition and Laureate in the International Naumburg Competition, which, once again, brought her to Carnegie Hall, this time to the Isaac Stern Auditorium. Ms. Guneyman, a Turkish-born American citizen, also holds the title of State Artist, representing the Ministry of Culture of the Turkish Republic.
About Dick Hyman
Throughout a busy musical career that got underway in the early 50s, Dick Hyman has been a consummate pianist, organist, arranger, music director and composer. His versatility in all of these areas has resulted in film scores, orchestral compositions, concert appearances and well over 100 albums recorded under his own name. He also has avidly studied and recorded the piano music of Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson, Zex Confrey, Eubie Blake and Fats Waller. Other solo recordings include the music of Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Duke Ellington.
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