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Alexander von Schlippenbach: Slow Pieces For Aki: Piano Solo

By Dan McClenaghan
October 16, 2020
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Alexander von Schlippenbach: Slow Pieces For Aki: Piano Solo

Pianist

Alexander von Schlippenbach

piano
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Alexander von Schlippenbach began recording in the 1950s. Twenty years into the new millennium, he continues to do so prolifically, with twenty-five albums under his own name listed on Wikipedia—a seeming short shrift; his three solo albums on the Intakt Records label from 2005 and 2012 somehow didn't make the list, suggesting there are more. His profile rose in the 1960s, with his work with the Global Unity Orchestra and a trio with saxophonist

Evan Parker

saxophone, soprano
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Evan Parker and drummer

Paul Lovens

percussion
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Lovens. And his work in collaboration with Parker and the world of free improvisation suggests some seriously "out there" sounds that are "fast, loud and intense."

But with his solo outings, that is not the case. Though known as an avant-garde-ist, on record von Schlippenbach has explored the more traditional sounds of

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk and

Jelly Roll Morton

piano
1890 - 1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Jelly Roll Morton and, with his Intakt Records solo piano discography, he has delved into, again, Monk on Plays Monk (2012), and a measured and often introspective beauty on 2005's Twelve Tone Tales, Vol 1 and Twelve Tone Tales, Vol.2.

The creation of Slow Pieces For Aki: Piano Solo was given a nudge by von Schlippenbach's life partner, pianist

Aki Takase

piano
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Aki Takase, who questioned the necessity of speed, volume and intensity in the realm of free improvisation. Von Schlippenbach answers her question with twenty-one short tunes—running from just over one minute to just over four minutes, ten of them improvisations—laid down with an almost religious deliberation, a measured music where every note rings with a sense of meaning and directness.

Solo piano is a special challenge. Every jazz pianist worth his/her salt goes there;

Art Tatum

piano
1909 - 1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Tatum,

Cecil Taylor

piano
1929 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor,

Jessica Williams

piano
1948 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Jessica Williams,

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett,

Fred Hersch

piano
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Fred Hersch and more have navigated success at going it alone at the keyboard. To that list of solo stars, add Alexander von Schlippenbach, with his sixty-plus years experience in the crafting of compelling sounds, for his two Twelve Tone Tales sets, and for his solemn sonic seduction of Slow Pieces For Aki: Piano Solo.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Haru No Yuki (Fr��hling Im Schnee); Improvisation I; Torso; Improvisation II; Improvisation III; Tell You; Improvisation IV; Cleo; Improvisation V; Naniga Nandemo; Improvisation VI; A-Blues; Blues b; Improvisation VII; I Told You; Improvisation VIII; Improvisation IX; Dydo; Improvisation X; Frage Nicht; Zycado.

Personnel

Alexander von Schlippenbach

piano

Album information

Title: Slow Pieces For Aki - Piano Solo | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Intakt Records

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