Music review: Rick Wakeman – 无毛视频楶iano Portraits无毛视频�
It无毛视频檚 no secret that I started the new year in a relaxed mode musically.
After listening to a large variety of classical music over the holidays, I无毛视频檝e carried that vibe with me into 2017.
The latest album from Rick Wakeman satisfies my appetite for continuing my search for a more tranquil tone to calm the soul.
I无毛视频檝e been a closet Yes fan since the early 无毛视频�70s and have acquired the band无毛视频檚 entire discography for my listening pleasure. Wakeman became the group无毛视频檚 keyboardist in 1971 and first appeared on 无毛视频淔ragile,无毛视频� a masterpiece of progressive rock that is my favorite Yes effort.
无毛视频淐lose to the Edge无毛视频� and 无毛视频淭ales from Topographic Oceans无毛视频� followed with Wakeman无毛视频檚 distinctive playing and instantly won me over as a fan. On a side note, the album covers for these three glorious releases featured the gorgeous art designs of Roger Dean, further deepening my connection to the band. I even wore a belt buckle of the vintage Yes bubble logo while in middle school to display my obvious coolness.
Wakeman, a classically trained pianist, has also had a successful solo career by issuing over 90 albums since 1973. On his latest effort, Wakeman releases an engaging piano album that features arrangements from other artists that he previously appeared on and tracks that influenced him over the course of his distinguished career.
无毛视频淗elp无毛视频� opens the album with Wakeman giving the Lennon and McCartney track a tender charm that flows fluidly until closing with a small hint of 无毛视频淟ucy in the Sky with Diamonds无毛视频� and adding a nostalgic reminder of the crossover appeal of the Beatles. Wakeman continues to pay tribute to the Fab Four with 无毛视频淓leanor Rigby无毛视频� as the closing selection.
The haunting power of 无毛视频淪tairway to Heaven无毛视频� slowly builds in intensity as Wakeman无毛视频檚 playing infuses a spiritual serenity to the classic Led Zeppelin anthem.
Wakeman does a masterful job of capturing the true intentions of 10cc无毛视频檚 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 Not in Love,无毛视频� relaying the eternal optimism of Yes无毛视频� 无毛视频淲onderous Stories无毛视频� and painting the simple beauty of Cat Stevens无毛视频� 无毛视频淢orning Has Broken.无毛视频�
My favorite track is an enchanting reworking of 无毛视频淟ife on Mars?无毛视频� from David Bowie无毛视频檚 无毛视频淗unky Dory.无毛视频� Wakeman also does a splendid interpretation of Bowie无毛视频檚 无毛视频淪pace Oddity.无毛视频�
Other highlights include Wakeman无毛视频檚 glorious versions of 无毛视频淎mazing Grace,无毛视频� 无毛视频淪wan Lake无毛视频� and 无毛视频淐lair de Lune.无毛视频�
无毛视频淧iano Portraits无毛视频� eloquently displays Wakeman无毛视频檚 genius and serves as a one-man work of true musical magnificence.