Known And Unknown: Solo Piano Works By Rodney Sharman
Redshift, 2024
8/10
Listen to Known And Unknown: Solo Piano Works By Rodney Sharman
The inimitable pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa fleshes out a portrait album of the Vancouver artist Rodney Sharman, a project that’s been in the making since 2016, and showcases Iwaasa’s meticulous abilities.
Book 3’s “Mercurio dal ciel in terra” starts the listen with the gentle and intriguing keys that occasionally use deeper registers, and “Wounded” finishes this book with much atmosphere, where ominous moments populate the tense keys.
Book 2 offers us the stirring intimacy of “Carmen”, where the gentle progressions emit much beauty, while Book 1’s “La Rondine” tugs on the heartstrings with its emotive quality and moving demeanor.
The deeper tracks include the talking mixed in with the adventurous and firm keys of “The Garden”, which recruits exciting unpredictability, and the title track, which exits the listen with a quaint and lovely 9+ minutes of sublime song craft.
A project that embraces plenty of harmonic gestures and extended techniques, Iwaasa illuminates Sharman’s distinct vision with exceptional, gripping and timeless playing.
Travels well with: Cheryl Duvall/Patrick Giguère- Intimes Exubérances; India Gailey- Problematica