Gonzalez - Manifesto

Gonzalez is Jason Beck, a Canadian who has been living in Berlin for the last five years and moved to Paris recently. I don't know any of his previous records but they must have been quite different (to put it mildly) from 2004's Solo Piano where this comes from. This is to electro-rap what zen meditation is to the war in Iraq.

On his solo piano record Gonzalez conjures up Robert Schumann's romantic Kinderszenen, Frédéric Chopin's atmospheric Nocturnes, Erik Satie's feathery Gymnopédies and Pascal Comelade's toy piano pieces from September Song (with Robert Wyatt's unworldly voice). Ravel as well I suppose but I don't know any of his piano works by name.

Manifesto, the second track on the album reminds me most of Keith Jarrett's solo adventures on the piano though. You can hear someone taking off for the sky here. A lyrical, impressionist, wistful piece which is just perfect for the winter landscape around me right now. Majestic and holy. No colours, just black and white keys.

Further info on the album:

• French article from Radio France Internationale translated into English
• German article