Richard Carr - American Reflection (Rec'd Music)
This album has totally amazed me. See, it's just Richard, playing piano, and while this may not be the soundtrack to a Saturday night party, it is perfect for just about any other time. The theme of the album is America, with beautiful compositions like 'Pulse of America' and 'Unknown Soldier' anchoring the album squarely in the amazing category. Worth checking out.
**** [5 stars being best - Ed.]
“American Reflection”
“American Reflection” is a collection of impressions and feelings elicited
from visits to many of the national monuments in Washington, D.C. Assembled
to honor America on its 225th birthday (it was released on July 4), and also
as a tribute to those who have served their country “in whatever capacity”,
the piano solos range from big and bold to quiet and reflective. Much of the
album was improvised on the spot, and no edits were made. As much as I
respect the courage it takes to do this method of composing/recording, it
can, at times, feel rather self-indulgent and disjointed.
“Hope (Vietnam)” is gorgeous and emotionally powerful. Composed to describe
the intensity of the feelings that surround the Vietnam Memorial, this piece
really works on all levels. “Lincoln” reflects, in a rather soft-spoken
manner, the strength and dignity that this man gave his country, and is,
also, an excellent piece of music. “Unknown Soldier” is solemn and dark,
reflective and respectful. “Reflection Pools” is soothing and beautiful,
shimmering as a reflection in the water does. To this reviewer’s ears, these
are the best pieces on the CD. The others work to various degrees, and a few,
for me, fall apart. I enjoy the energy of “Pulse of America”, but it seems
chaotic in the later parts of the piece - perhaps that was intentional.
“Revere’s Ride” is interesting, dark and rhythmic, and would probably be a
great piece of music with some polishing and minor revisions. “Cherry
Blossoms” has some wonderful passages, and it’s amazing that Carr could keep
the flickering right hand rhythm going while doing so many other things with
his left. For me, some of those “other things” just don’t go together,
weakening the passages that work. “Korea” also has impressive moments and
then kind of goes all over the place. I enjoy a lot of Carr’s pieces that
have a pitch black and rhythmic left hand, but this piece seems to be trying
to do too many things at once.
I respect and admire Richard Carr’s intentions with “American Reflection”,
but I have to say that I don’t think it’s consistently his best work. Some of
the pieces are wonderful, but the CD tends to be a bit uneven and even
difficult. I listened to it many times, as often more-complicated music
reveals itself over time. I just couldn’t get into some of this recording. It
is available from Amazon as well as Carr’s website at www.richardcarr.com. - Kathy Parsons,Solo Piano Publications
- Persygrrl, Independent Music Reviews at www.geocities.com/indiecator
Richard Carr
2001 Rec’d Music
68’13”