FRIEDRICH GULDA (1930–2000)
PIANO WORKS
MARTIN DAVID JONES
“Friedrich Gulda’s music is unique in the piano repertoire because it allows the pianist to be both a concert artist and a jazz musician. His music adds a new sound to the concert music world. His fantastic Variations on 'Light my Fire' is a landmark composition that rivals the greatest variation sets with its combination of not only the classical and jazz worlds, but rock and roll as well. I gravitated to Gulda's music because it is electrifying, modern, and yet beautiful and accessible.” – Martin David Jones
(1930–2000)
About this Recording
Friedrich Gulda’s piano compositions combine notated music with large improvised sections, thus fusing the classical and jazz traditions. He was one of his generation’s most significant pianists and though his compositional output is relatively small, it is nevertheless significant. Variations on ‘Light My Fire’ is his tour de force virtuoso masterpiece whilst Play Piano Play beguilingly contrasts traditional classical procedure with many different jazz styles.
TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 74:17
MARTIN DAVID JONES
Martin David Jones, enjoys a multifaceted career as an award-winning classical and jazz pianist, composer, and conductor. As a pianist, he has appeared at major musical centres including Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the Gindi Auditorium in Los Angeles. He has given the world premieres of works by Libby Larsen, Michael Nathaniel Hersch, and the Washington premiere of China Gates by John Adams. Jones holds Master and Doctoral degrees from Peabody Conservatory, and is Professor of Music at Augusta University in Georgia where he teaches piano and composition.
RECOMMENDED JAZZ-INFLUENCED RECORDINGS
– International Piano
– Jazz Magazine
– Cinemusical
★★★★
