This virtuosic solo piano outing by
Joanne Brackeen gives
Chick Corea's year 2000 solo series a run for its money. It's also quite a departure from the busier sound of 1999's
Pink Elephant Magic. But like her previous record,
Popsicle Illusion is packed with
Brackeen's characteristic exuberance, sophistication, and diverse stylistic command.
Beginning with a 7/4 stride piano version of
"If I Were a Bell," Brackeen goes on to tackle several other standards and four strong originals. She performs lightning-speed harmonic surgery on
Cole Porter's
"From This Moment On" and takes
"The Touch of Your Lips" at a swinging medium tempo. Donning a different hat, she delivers the stunning ballads
"Prelude to a Kiss," "Bess, You Is My Woman," and even
the Beatles'
"Michelle." Her originals, as usual, overflow with compositional resourcefulness and resist easy categorization: There's the splashy
"Popsicle Illusion," the Tel Aviv-inspired
"Telavivision," the boogie-woogie throwback
"Knickerbocker Blues," and the abstract, classically influenced piece
"High Tea for Stephany." Brackeen wraps up with
"Nature Boy," done faster than usual in a semi-stride style. Then there's a special bonus: an engaging, five-plus minute interview of
Brackeen by producer
Bob Karcy.
An important statement from an important pianist. ~ David R. Adler
