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Huw Warren: New Solo CD Nocturnes and Visions
“Soaring and elegant melodies borne aloft by rhapsodic textures” (London Jazz News)
Welsh Pianist/Composer Huw Warren releases a new solo piano recording with Maizeh Music.
The album follows hot on the heels of his critically acclaimed records for ECM (Quercus and Nightfall with June Tabor and Iain Ballamy) and is a successor to the 2002 solo record Infinite Riches in a Little Room.
Nocturnes and Visions has a deep and beautifully contemplative feel. The album is bookended by two Brazilian compositions – Hermeto Pascoal’s gently epic O Farol Que Nos Guia (Our guiding light) and Guinga’s Noturna. Warren’s love and celebration of Brazil has already been documented on his 2009 Hermeto+ recording as well as his ongoing collaboration with Italian singer Maria Pia de Vito.
There are several new Warren compositions, such as the polyrhythmic Against the Odds and the otherworldly The Book of Strange New Things, and a new version of the Perfect Houseplants tune dedicated to Edward Elgar, EE. Two new pieces are also dedications: Pure (for JT) in memory of pianist John Taylor, and Up There (for JL) in memory of Huw’s brother in law, cellist and composer Jeremy Lamburn.
There are also two intriguing adaptations of Bach preludes from the Well Tempered Clavier. Prelude, is based on the Prelude 5 in Eb minor and fuses the beautiful Sarabande melody with an improvised section. The Bulgarian Stretch uses Bach’s harmony from Prelude 2 in C minor with a Balkan dance feel and new melody.
Nocturnes and Visions consolidates Warren’s reputation as an original voice in contemporary music who is unafraid of fusing and crossing genres, as well as creating work of pure beauty.
Buy or Download here
London Jazz review here
Adrian Pallant review here
Album Interview here
to buy direct or make a booking enquiry email warrenhuw@gmail.com
“an intimate, very special experience” Mike Collins
“A wonderfully inventive and imaginative solo piano album. Beautifully crafted and played”
Jason Rebello
“Beautiful record, lovely tunes and amazing piano sound and playing”
Kit Downes
“Fantastic new album. Sublime. A worthy successor to Huw’s previous solo album Infinite Riches in a Little Room” Mike O’Brien
“I totally recommend that you check out Huw Warren’s beautiful solo piano recording, Nocturnes and Visions. The whole album flows like a dream. Beautiful playing!” Jovino Santos Neto
“Absolutely gorgeous” Jamil Sheriff
