Unanimity
Two grand pianos, one disc: Bob Sedergreen and Tony Gould, leading Australian jazz improvisers, in a rare live duo of spontaneous piano performance.
Chick Corea composer
Tony Gould composer
W.C. Handy composer
Frank Loesser composer
Vincent Youmans composer
Joe Zawinul composer
Bob Sedergreen composer
Irving Berlin composer
Fran Landesman composer
Tommy Wolf composer
Bob Hilliard composer
Sammy Fain composer
Harry Woods composer
Sedergreen the fearless blues player and Gould the classically schooled improviser sit back to back on Steinway and Bösendorfer. The programme mixes familiar songs with their own pieces, chosen after many suggestions and little more rehearsal than a key check.
Concerts at Melba Hall in 1993 and Blackburn High School in 1994 catch the pair trading solos and surprises, from Tea for Two and La Fiesta to Heathland, Blues for Mary-Lou and a long closing Side by Side.
Some old, some new, all lovely pieces to play and chosen by mutual agreement – after a couple of hundred suggestions from each of us.
Tony Gould and Bob Sedergreen have earned individual high reputations in Australia and overseas. In many ways their successful performances together defy musical logic in that they really are like chalk and cheese when it comes to pianism and in the different musical paths they have chosen.
Sedergreen the fearless is one of the greatest performers of the blues this country has produced. He is blessed too, with a wonderful style of musical humour. Gould the cautious, caused by his years of classical training – of which incidentally he is probably eternally grateful to a great teacher, Max Cooke.
It works because both have ‘big’ ears, have mutual respect for each other and above all have an undying love for the art of improvisation and musical spontaneity.
Besides, the immense fun of making music with a friend is one of the great joys of life – everyone should do it.
By the way, in case you’re interested, Tony is on the left – Steinway – and Bob is on the right – Bösendorfer – during the Melba Hall concert. (But Bob pushed me off the Steinway to play a solo on New Orleans).
Reviews
Gould … excelled with his delicacy of touch, and his brilliant improvisations. Sedergreen’s playing never failed to capture the ear with its vigor, variety and skill.
the two pianists managed to keep each other guessing … at every turn, one would catch the other off guard with a surprising twist or a tongue-in-cheek suggestion, either subtle or outlandish
Gould and Sedergreen intended to enjoy themselves, and did so hugely. What was more remarkable was that they managed to communicate this enjoyment to the audience.
Artists
Tony Gould
Pianist and composer Tony Gould is one of Australia’s most respected musicians. His career has spanned jazz and other improvisatory forms as well as traditional and contemporary classical, and for decades he has stood at the forefront of music education in Australia.
Bob Sedergreen
Pianist Bob Sedergreen is one of the greatest blues performers this country has produced, and he is blessed with a wonderful style of musical humour.
Audio preview
Tracks
- Tea for two Vincent Youmans 11:15
- La fiesta Chick Corea 9:37
- New Orleans Hoagy Carmichael 5:02
- Easter parade Irving Berlin 6:25
- St. Louis blues W.C. Handy 8:03
- The ballad of the sad young men Fran Landesman Tommy Wolf 3:00
- Alice in Wonderland Bob Hilliard Sammy Fain 2:02
- Blues for Mary-Lou Bob Sedergreen 5:03
- Heathland Tony Gould 7:11
- Wonderful Copenhagen Frank Loesser 2:38
- Mercy, mercy, mercy Joe Zawinul 4:12
- Side by side Harry Woods 10:15
Performers
- Tony Gould · all except tracks 3 and 8
- Bob Sedergreen · all except tracks 6 and 9
Composers
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin wrote the songs that lodge in the ear and stay there: White Christmas, Easter Parade, Blue Skies, Puttin' on the Ritz. Simple, direct, and built for the heart, they still travel wherever melody is welcome.
Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagy Carmichael wrote the melodies behind Stardust, Georgia on My Mind, The Nearness of You and Heart and Soul, songs that moved from hot jazz of the 1920s into the permanent repertoire of popular and jazz singers.
Chick Corea
Crystal Silence, La Fiesta and the Children's Songs travel far beyond the piano stool. Chick Corea's pieces carry luminous melody, Latin heat and a playful clarity that invite bass, marimba and twin grands to make them their own.
Sammy Fain
Sammy Fain (1902–1989) was an American composer of popular song for Broadway and Hollywood, whose lasting standards belong to the Great American Songbook.
Bob Hilliard
Bob Hilliard's lyrics gave popular song some of its most intimate night-time confessions and dreamiest storybook turns, from the hushed longing of In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning to the wonder of Alice in Wonderland.
Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser wrote the music and lyrics that still light up stages and standards books: sharp, singable Broadway scores and film songs whose wit and warmth keep turning up in jazz rooms and recital programmes alike.
Vincent Youmans
Vincent Youmans wrote lean Broadway songs built from short repeated phrases and subtle harmonic turns. Tea for Two, I Want to Be Happy and More Than You Know became lasting standards, still favoured by jazz players.
Fran Landesman
Fran Landesman (1927–2011) was an American lyricist and poet. Her songs, among them Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most and The Ballad of the Sad Young Men, became lasting jazz standards.
Tommy Wolf
Tommy Wolf (1925–1979) was an American composer and pianist. His songs, among them Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most and The Ballad of the Sad Young Men, became jazz standards.
Where to listen
Unanimity is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Unanimity is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3155
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 74 minutes 43 seconds
- Recording Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Editing Engineer
- Vaughan McAlley
- Mixing Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Mastering Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Venue
- Blackburn High School (tracks 1, 4, 6 and 10)
Melba Hall (all except tracks 1, 4, 6 and 10) - Release date
- 1995
- Musical work
copyright - © 1995 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1995 Move Records
- Categories
- Australian, Jazz, Keyboard
- Genre
- Jazz & Improvised
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574315523
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