Black Ivory, Ellie Malick's second CD, is a collection of original pieces characterized by a strong improvisational element. Her intensity, sense of humor, and joie de vivre permeate this spirited recording. Since 2004, Ellie has been composing pieces for solo piano. Her compositions -- an eclectic blend of flowing classical, jazzy improvisation, and upbeat blues -- are strongly influenced by her favorite composers, Claude Debussy and Thelonius Monk.
As a child, Ellie studied classical piano at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Mass, where she completed the Preparatory School Certificate Program in 1961. Ellie returned in 2003 to study jazz piano with internationally renowned concert jazz pianist, Eyran Katsenelenbogen. In 2005, Ellie and Eyran released Just for Fun, a CD of original compositions. Ellie is a retired foreign language teacher who enjoys pottery and international travel.
CLAY
was inspired by an abstract ceramic sculpture representing water, earth and trees. The internal movement of this clay sculpture can be heard in the lines, shapes and fluidity in this piano piece.
METAMORPHOSE
traces our life’s path, beginning with birth when we join this world like a tree coming up through the earth. It follows us through all of our experiences—comical, bitter, sweet—the entire roundness of life. The piece then tells the story of our departure as soul on eagle’s wings.
JOJO’S MOOD
was composed for my friend and colleague, Joanne Curran. Every morning before teaching Spanish, we would begin our day with a cup of coffee and a spoonful of reality and laughter.
MISSISSIPPI BABY
is for Rosie, the daughter of my long-time friend, Marianne Hill, who lives in Mississippi. For years, Marianne and I would only call Rosie “Baby.” This piece catches both Marianne and Rosie’s playfulness, energy and joy. This is an improvisation for four hands. Eyran is playing the lower register and I am on the higher one.
CHORD TWO
represents a conversation between two friends by building lines, texture and color around two chords.
CORAL REEF
plays with the sensuality, wonder and amazement of swimming in a never-ending ocean to discover colorful life forms in a coral reef. This piece is a favorite of my partner, JB’s, and I dedicate it to her with love.
GLAZIN’ AT THE FLAT
mimics the fun, creativity and sense of adventure inherent in glazing pottery. There is fluidity and an “I don’t know” quality to glazing. I am grateful to the teachers and students at Mudflat Studios in Somerville, Mass, for sharing their patience, expertise and love of pottery with me.
BLACK IVORY
is a result of my excitement at the thought of improvising using only the black keys on the piano. We created this four-handed improvisation in one take. I’m playing the lower register, and Eryan is on the higher one. We played only black keys until the end of the piece, where Eryan transitions to an E-flat minor blues scale, which includes one white note, an A.
All pieces composed by Ellie Malick
All pieces published by Eyran Records Publishing (ASCAP)
1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 performed by Ellie Malick
4 and 8 performed by Ellie Malick and Eyran Katsenelenbogen
7 performed by Eyran Katsenelenbogen
Eyran, thank you for your time, encouragement, patience and love. You share an enthusiasm, passion and dedication to music that are contagious. You always find humor and compassion in life, and you pass that on to your friends. I am so grateful to be one of them. - Ellie
Related to Felix Mendelssohn, Eyran was born in Israel and was first taught by Aida Barenboim, mother and teacher of famed pianist/conductor Daniel Barenboim. Eyran went on to continue his music education at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he trained with Ran Blake, Paul Bley, Fred Hersch, Danilo Perez, George Russell and Gunther Schuller.
Since 1996, Eyran has held a faculty position at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and School of Continuing Education. At NEC, Eyran has pioneered innovative techniques for teaching contemporary music performance to students with special abilities and diverse needs. He collaborated with his students on ten CDs, and created a music library on YouTube documenting their performances.
In 2011, Eyran Katsenelenbogen and Andrei Ivanovitch collaborated on the DVD Classical Meets Jazz: Pictures at an Exhibition - a two-piano onstage dialogue weaving together classical and jazz styles in a revolutionary interpretation of Mussorgsky's timeless masterpiece. Eyran and Andrei preformed their innovative program to enthusiastic audiences in Europe, Russia and the United States.
Eyran's recordings have been enthusiastically reviewed by major jazz publications such as Jazziz, Jazz Times, Jazz Journal International and All About Jazz, which stated about Eyran’s tenth CD, 88 Fingers: "He sets the bar towards which other pianists must strive."
A classically trained pianist with a unique jazz style, Eyran has performed in concerts and on radio and television throughout the world. His recent concerts include Saint Joseph Theater, Scarborough; Bechstein Centrum, Hamburg; Tel-Aviv Jazz Festival; Teatro di Marcello, Rome; Mirrors Hall, St. Petersburg; Iridium Jazz Club, New York and Jordan Hall, Boston.
Eyran has been dedicated throughout his life to the medium of improvisational piano. "He is a passionate man who feels deeply, and he has the talent to express those feelings through his playing. You can not help but be moved by his performance." - Frank Rubolino, Cadence.
Black Ivory
Recorded on July 2 and 13, 2007, and on May 14 and June 7, 2011.
Mastered on April 23, 2011.
Recorded and mastered by John Weston at Futura Productions, Roslindale, Mass.
Ellie Malick and Eyran Katsenelenbogen play a Steinway Model D Hamburg Concert Grand Piano.
All photography by Vincere Sylph, Vincere Sylph Productions
Graphic Design by Abby Getman, Go Go Getman Design
Liner notes edited by JB Sweeney
Produced by Ellie Malick and Eyran Katsenelenbogen
For my dear friend, Christopher Reiche January 18, 1953 – February 25, 2009
For three years, Chris, my dog Layla and I formed our own weekday morning coffee club. We sometimes enjoyed an afternoon walk at Menotomy Rocks Park with Layla running free. Chris would often lie on my couch and listen to these pieces as they were being composed.
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