Jazz breaking news: Pianists Michael Wollny and Iiro Rantala light up Piccadilly
Monday, November 19, 2012
In the first of a series of concerts at St James’ Church, Piccadilly, during the London Jazz Festival to celebrate 20 years of ACT Records, pianist Michael Wollny, most often heard with his trio [em], performed entirely solo.
An extended improvisation opened with a rolling pastoral movement which segued into successive passages, each with its own distinctive character whether delicate or thunderous, harmonically simple or dissonant, groove-based or choppy. A totally absorbing performance, it revealed a prodigious technical command allied to a clear sense of musical purpose and emotional depth.
The Finnish pianist Iiro Rantala performed compositions from his new album My History of Jazz, demonstrating the lineage from Bach through Art Tatum to today’s music with panache, vitality and charm. The Polish violinist Adam Bałdych joined him for a rousing 'Caravan' – another young star about to shine brightly.
The ACT Records 20th birthday celebration continued all week at St James' with further outstanding performances from Gwilyn Simcock with City of London Sinfonia on Friday 16 November, and Leszek Mozdzer plus Radio String Quartet Vienna on Saturday 17 November.
– Charles Alexander