SOLO PIANO II OUT TODAY
Story by Laura Cappe
Chilly Gonzales is a musician of many dimensions. A man known for his stunning piano compositions, eccentric performances and quirky persona – Jason Charles Beck (aka. Chilly Gonzales) has dabbled in many genres over the past decades. Constantly exploring and adjusting his musical focus, Gonzales has released albums with elements of rap, techno, pop, and of course classical piano, often blending it all together to create fresh (and sometimes quirky) music. His ear for melody and inherent passion for sound and texture has lead him to collaborate with artists like Daft Punk, Feist, Drake, and Jamie Lidell, has landed his own Apple commercial, produced Grammy nominated albums and has broken a world record for the longest solo artist performance (lasting an eye-popping 27 hours, 3 minutes and 44 seconds). What is so special about Gonzales however, is his way of adapting to any and all musical climates; some could even call him a chameleon, but it is the piano that keeps his sound grounded.
His latest installment Solo Piano II is an enchanting compilation of stripped down melodies and elegantly modern compositions. Recorded over the course of ten days in Paris, Gonzales resorted back to his classical roots, removing all of the complexities and embellishments that we so often hear in music today, keeping his latest piece perfectly pure, focusing solely on the piano. A stark contrast from some of his earlier works (see: Ivory Tower, where on track “I Am Europe” he compares himself to a “shrugging moustache wearing a Speedo tuxedo”) Gonzales indulges his listeners with fantastical stories derived purely from the sound of his piano. The opening track “White Keys” immediately sparks the imagination, infusing a certain calm to both body and mind that is maintained throughout the entire album.
Solo Piano II is an incredibly unique (and perhaps even challenging) indie piece for generations x, y and z. It is a pleasant rarity that should be cherished by all music lovers – especially those who don’t have knowledge of classical music. After years of experimenting and creating new ways to make sounds, it is often found that the real gems are embedded in the fabric.
