Music review: Lang Lang – 无毛视频楴ew York Rhapsody无毛视频�
After my New Year无毛视频檚 Eve celebration, I decided that I would ease into 2017 with some relaxing music. I began to look for a new release that was different from the classic rock, country and R&B styles I had been listening to over the last several months. My search led me to Lang Lang无毛视频檚 latest effort titled 无毛视频淣ew York Rhapsody.无毛视频�
Recently named New York City无毛视频檚 first 无毛视频渃ultural tourism ambassador,无毛视频� the Chinese pianist displays his affection for the city with songs that pay tribute to the city that doesn无毛视频檛 sleep. Lang is joined by a host of artists to assist in the reinterpretation of familiar arrangements from a variety of genres.
Lang无毛视频檚 opening selection spotlights Aaron Copland无毛视频檚 无毛视频淪tory of Our Town无毛视频� with a peaceful beauty that gracefully sets the table for the full menu of musical tastings to follow.
Special guest performances include Andra Day lending a soulful tone to Alicia Keys无毛视频� 无毛视频淓mpire State of Mind,无毛视频� Madeleine Peyroux capturing the mood of Henry Mancini无毛视频檚 无毛视频淢oon River无毛视频� perfectly, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Kandace Springs offering up a fresh jazzy version of Don Henley无毛视频檚 无毛视频淣ew York Minute,无毛视频� Jason Isbell, formerly from the Drive-By Truckers, earthy take on 无毛视频淣ew York Morning,无毛视频� violinist Lindsey Stirling embracing Danny Elfman无毛视频檚 无毛视频淪pider-Man无毛视频� theme and Grammy-winning trumpeter Sean Jones simply shining on Bernstein无毛视频檚 无毛视频淭onight,无毛视频� also from 无毛视频淲est Side Story.无毛视频�
Lang delivers a wondrous version of George Gershwin无毛视频檚 1924 无毛视频淩hapsody in Blue无毛视频� with the help of Herbie Hancock on second piano and the accompaniment of the London Symphony Orchestra. Millennials may recognize the track as part of the popular television commercials for United Airlines.
Lou Reed无毛视频檚 gritty 无毛视频淒irty Blvd.无毛视频� and the elegant 无毛视频淪omewhere无毛视频� from 无毛视频淲est Side Story无毛视频� are oddly blended to expose two very different sides of the Big Apple with Jeffrey Wright skillfully handling the dark mood of Reed无毛视频檚 vision and Lisa Fischer unveiling optimism for the future to create an unsettling and beautiful arrangement to ponder and digest.
A warm version of Copland无毛视频檚 无毛视频淚n Evening Air无毛视频� warmly serenades the album to a tender close.
无毛视频淣ew York Rhapsody无毛视频� is the perfect musical companion to cozy up to on a cold Pennsylvania winter无毛视频檚 day.
Clint Rhodes is the 无毛视频-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.