Credits:

Richie Beirach

Description:

Richie Baillyak's first solo piano live performance, a medley of mainly standards with a touch of lyricism, was born in 1947 in New York City. He is currently based in Germany, where he has been teaching since the early 1970s. This album was recorded live at Chateau Fleur Cardinard in Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse, Saint-Emilion near Bordeaux, France. This is the first solo piano live recording since "Live In Tokyo" in 1981, which was released only in Japan. The repertoire includes seven standards: "Round Midnight," "On Green Dolphin Street," "What Is This Thing Called Love," "Nardis," "Blue in Green," "Maiden Voyage," and Footprints" and two originals written in the 1970s, "Leaving" and "Sunday Song.The recording was made on a 9-foot Steinway concert grand, surrounded by an audience of 120 people in a wine tasting room, without a pre-determined set list, and chosen at the moment of performance after sitting down at the piano. The medley of first attempts, Track 2, "What Is This Thing Called Love?", "Alone Together", "Blue In Green", Track 7, "Spring Is Here", "Maiden Voyage", "Monk's Dream", "You Don't Know What Love Is," and Track 9, "Leaving" and "Sunday Song," the aim was to create an effect where the two songs complement each other and change when played in succession without stopping. The lyricism of the performance is impressive, and it is easy to see why he is called Evans' legitimate successor.

Tracklisting:

1.Nardis
2.What Is This Thing Called Love?
3.Round Midnight
4.On Green Dolphin Street
5.Some Other Time
6.Solar
7.Spring Is Here
8.Footprints
9.Leaving