La Speranza
Big Round, 2020
8/10
The composer and songwriter Elaine Freeman offers us an album of piano music with La Speranza, which, amazingly, was penned by ear, without sheet music. Using memory and touch, the songstress lands somewhere between classical and pop music, as Freeman packs turmoil, grief, nostalgia and so much more into these minimal but impactful compositions.
Freeman starts the listen with the brief “Intro To La Speranza (Song For Angelo)”, where her agile and warm keys set the foundation for the remainder of the listen, and “Mantova” follows with soothing, melodic and inviting key work, as does the playful and precise “Going Home”.
The middle portion brings us the sweeping beauty of the title track, where plenty of emotion is present, while “I Love You So Much, I Love You Always (Vincenzo’s Theme)” flows with fascinating chord progressions that are full of timeless intimacy.
Near the end, “Leave Me At The Border”, the stand out track, then dances around heart warming melodies, and “Closing” exits on a short, swift finish of elegant and frisky song craft.
If you’ve got an ear for piano focused songwriting, you won’t be disappointed here, as Freeman doesn’t fit firmly into one category, but embraces countless influences into a very compelling and creative journey.
Travels well with: Mark John McEncroe- Musical Images For Piano; Jonathan Badger- Piano Quartets