Singing Style
Albany, 2021
9/10
The always exceptional pianist Bruce Leto covers sounds from baroque to present on the aptly titled Singing Style, where the arrangements occasionally welcome vocals alongside Leto’s expressive and artistic approach to his tonal manipulation.
“August Rose” starts the listen with Leto’s keys displaying both intimate and brisk, even firm, ideas highlighting the warm spirit, and “Valses nobles et sentimentales II. Assez lent” follows with much beauty and grace as a darker spirit flows near the end.
Deeper into the listen, “Apparition” offers tumbling keys that weave in and out of cinematic qualities, while “La petite négre” bounces playfully as the brief track makes an immediate impact. “Deux Romances: I. L’ame évaporee” then brings in Lauren Angelini on soprano as her sublime pipes complement Leto’s deft finger acrobatics.
“Armed And Dangerous” arrives near the end and offers a live performance that’s as flawless as it is memorable, and “Ma mére l’oye: IV. Les entretiens de la belle et de la béte” finishes the listen with Scott Cohen’s piano skill complementing Leto’s prowess on the flexible, absorbing exit.
An extremely technical but universally embraceable effort, Leto shows us his multifaceted skill in both calm and muscular environments where tone, harmony and articulation are key. For fans of piano music, few are doing it as well as Leto.
Travels well with: Neil Rolnick- Oceans Eat Cities; Susan Kander- dwb (driving while black)