Record Reviews

MICHEL CAMILO ~ WHAT`S UP? OKEH 888837039925 (Barcode: 888837039925) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 As hard as it is to believe, this is the first solo piano recording by pianist / composer Michel CamiloFind albums by this artist. Born in the Dominican Republic and resident in the US since 1979, Camilo released his debut album in 1985 and never looked back, recording a wide range of music ranging between Latin Jazz and contemporary Classical Music. He enjoyed success and recognition in the last three decades, which only very few artists, especially Jazz musicians, ever managed to achieve. This album includes eleven pieces, seven of which are his original compositions and the remaining four are standards. Musically they span a lot of quite diverse ground and stylistic approaches, changing tempi from slow ballads to fast honky tonk blues and Latin rhythms. Camilo handles the piano masterfully and with typical Latin flare. Every keystroke is exactly where it is expected to be time and again. Piano Jazz connoisseurs will find this as delightful as chocolate fondue, no doubt. On the other hand, Camilo´s original compositions are rather unremarkable and his treatment of the standards contributes little excitement in comparison to other Jazz piano players. So here we have it, brilliant piano playing but pretty straightforward music, which is pleasing and pretty, but hardly challenges the listener. All in all it´s always up to the listener, who needs to decide what exactly he´s looking for in music: entertainment or Art?

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