Luiz Avellar’s solo piano recording, Contrast becomes more engrossing with each song as he draws you into his world that fuses the depth and richness of great classical piano music with the spirit and improvisational power of the modern jazz masters. There are echos of Shumman, Chopin, Ravel, Jarrett, and Corea filtered through the prism of Luiz’ native Brazilian heritage.
The CD is perfectly titled as the songs range from the gentle and tender, “Nosso menino” dedicated to Luiz’ new son (which suggests a father’s conversation with his son about life’s possibilities and perils) to the thunderous and majestic harmonies of ” Master Raro”. There’s also “Mango Pickle”, a piece that sounds like an exotic boogie woogie and the whimsical “Carrossel” that could have been part of Ravel’s “Mother Goose.” Contrast those with the playful Monk inspired dissonances of “Conversa de botequim” and Luiz’ imaginative use of waves of cascading
chords to suggest the crashing Rio surf on “Rio de janeiro.” The program concludes with the charming choro-like “O vôo da môsca” that highlights Luiz’ lightening speed technique. Not to neglect any piece, suffice to say that all the compositions are beautifully conceived and Luiz’ playing throughout is a study in how best to realize the piano’s wide sonic palette and expressive capabilities.
I first met Luiz in 1986 when he was working with Milton Naciamento. I felt from the moment I heard him play that he was a special musician. It was apparent he possessed great technique, had studied and absorbed the jazz vocabulary, and of course played Brazilian music as
only a native Brazilian could. With this recording he masterfully showcases all of these facets of his musicianship and confirms my initial feelings. This music is grounded in a solid understanding of the piano’s rich tradition and will continue to reveal deeper layers with each listening.
Russell Ferrante ( sep 01/ 2008 )
When I began to write about the latest work of the composer, pianist and arranger Luiz Avellar, I didn’t expect the music to reach my emotional side so deeply. I began to hear the CD rather distractedly, but, within a few minutes, the music pulled me in and grew inside of me, invading all of my chakras.
I sat and heard the CD three times in a row. Then I recalled the immeasurable number of times that we played together all around the world and the universal musical energy that exploded in the environment surrounding the people and the band, like the sweet guava in a pot that my grandmother used to make when I was a child in Brazil. I tried to calm myself and analyze the totality of what I was hearing and feeling. It was then that the “young” Luiz Avellar was revealed as a creative artist, one so experienced, who went beyond urbane, national or global music.
My congratulations, dear Luiz. You already are playing the music of the spheres, in other words, universal music.
Airto Moreira ( 7/ 2008 )
Today is September 7, 2008.
I am in Paris freezing to death!
It seems like a coincidence but all over the world, most of the Brazilian people are reminded of the anniversary of Brazil’s Independence Day through all kinds of parties and celebrations.
I have a feeling that Luiz Avellar is doing the same, since he achieved one of his greatest dreams as a musician: freedom of expression when playing classical music, no compromise and with integrity.
A day before yesterday I received an e-mail from Lisbon, Portugal, asking if I would like to write the liner notes for Luiz’s latest CD “Contrastes”, meaning “contrasts”.
I was surprised and happy at the same time because being a singer does not make me the best writer of liner notes for a classical work by a great pianist. I felt a challenge and challenge is my middle name!
I was born in Brazil, and both of my parents were classical musicians. My father, who was from Russia, played the violin and my mother, born in Brazil, played piano. She had studied at the music Conservatory of Recife, Pernambuco state, her home town.
My sister, my brother and I grew up listening to mom and dad practicing Rachmaninoff’s passages for days and days, and they would take us to different concerts and teach us how to appreciate the feelings and emotions of each soloist as well as composers of different music
backgrounds.
I listened to this CD at least eight times consecutively, three of them with Airto.
I met Luiz Avellar about 12 years ago and have worked together with him in various different musical productions, so I could safely say that I thought I knew the best of his musical talents.
I know Luiz Avellar as the music director, or the arranger, the composer, the musician, the live performer and great interpreter of Brazilian popular music and jazz. To my perception, he is an all around good and complete musician. I knew that he had studied classical music but it never occurred to me that he had any ambitions to pursue it until now.
I love his work in “Contrastes” and to me it is his best to date.
Flora Purim
“Luiz Avellar performs the music of his mind and paints a sonic picture. Great musical portfolio!” Billy Cobham (aug 29 / 2008)
Dear Luiz,
Your CD is very beautiful.
Your technique, sonority and dynamic energy get richer with the passing of the years.
Your compositions are attractive and Brazilian. Your arrangements are beautifully conceived and they blend very well with the impressionist and the classical elements.
The recording quality is excellent.
I am very happy for you and for music in general,
especially now, when poor quality reigns all over the world.
Congratulations and good luck,
Dori Caymmi
“I was surprised and delighted by your classical
background. All the pieces are structured and played
exquisitely. Listening to your music fills my heart with joy.”
Ernie Watts
Your piano performance has attained a great maturity in this recording. You’ve managed to retrieve a piano sound that very few can. It’s very difficult, almost impossible, to be able to create such an agreeable and untiring cd of solo piano and all with unfamiliar songs to the public. It’s necessary to be a very inspired and happy composer, which is the case in the cd. In my little knowledge, I’ve felt in your music and performance a travel from the impressionists like Radamés (or is it Guinga?), throughout the great jazz piano composers (the best, off-course), Bill Evans, Keith Jarret, Brad Mehldau, Tom or Luiz Eça, but all with a very personal touch that transforms it into something new. You make me very proud. I’ll seriously recommend your work to all the people I know and love.
Congratulations, congratulations and congratulations.
Big hug,
Ivan Lins
Luiz Avellar virtuosity and inventiveness were a great inspiration in my life.
Djavan
