Sunday, February 25, 2018

Katsu's Debut Album Release Concert (2/18/18)

Katsuaki Takizawa, piano

Wisteria, Sorrowful Joy, Meadow, For You, Canon – Pachelbel, Colour of Hometown, Bon Voyage, Green Sky, Cascade ...

Yes, that ellipsis is intentional. There were four more works on the program. I did not stick around to hear them.

Katsu, as he is known, is a self-taught pianist. He taught himself piano after watching (on YouTube!) and listening to Pachelbel's Canon over and over again. It shows.

I've never been to a CD release concert before. I'll choose the next one very carefully. Wisteria began with a solo for right hand only. It was New-Age-y with an Asian flair. At one point, both hands played in octaves. This was followed by a song-like section. The end.

Sorrowful Joy had a lot of sustained pedal going on (as in the first piece) so that there was a wash of sound. Sort of Debussy-esque, without the Debussy cachet. My notes for Meadow are simply, "More of the same pleasantness." My note for For You was a single ditto mark.

His version of Canon—his aforementioned raison d'etre—was also New Age-y, with touches of jazz. Colour of Hometown's note was, "Similar." I almost left then, but if I had I would have missed the interpretive dance (uncredited) to Bon Voyage. She interpretively danced pretty well. I should have taken Bon Voyage literally.

I guess I'm just not cut out for self-taught, piano-playing CD release concerts. Who would have guessed? Hey, you pays your money (bupkes), you takes your chances.

ConcertMeister

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