Eleanor Eidels
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Somewhere
I first heard the Lady Be Good track on the Univ of North Texas jazz station while I was driving down the highway. The last two minutes had me smiling, laughing, and finally shrieking with sheer joy and amazement at this incredible pianist with 75 fingers. Every note is distinct, even at lightning speed. The entire CD is remarkable, and I'm glad I bought an extra one to give my daughter. Can't wait for the next one! Thank you, Russ Kassoff!
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Marc Carfi
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I have no reservations about saying Art Tatum,Oscar Peterson and Russ Kassoff in
If it is possible to achieve perfection as a jazz piano player,then on this CD Russ Kassoff comes about as close as I've ever heard.His technique is flawless,his improvisational skills are wonderfully creative and his love for jazz and the piano shine through with every note he plays.In short he does it all.I have no reservations about saying Art Tatum ,Oscar Peterson and Russ Kassoff in the same sentence.Highly recomended.
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Don Keat
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Somewhere is a terrific CD by a wonderful pianist(Kassoff).
I've really enjoyed listening to Somewhere. The reasons are manifold but can be summarized under the three areas of smile, sing and swing.Firstly, SMILE. I feel good when listening to Somewhere. At the end of Lady Be Good I even laughed!(Flintstones earlier then Loony Tunes). Part of the fun is trying to figure out/identify what Mr Kassoff is playing in his Musicplay quotes (similar to Will Shortz's Wordplay)from bop(Miles,Bird phrases), to standards, spirituals,anthems and beyond. Secondly,SING. Almost all of the songs are singable. The fact is that I can sing along with cuts 1,2,3,5,6,8,10,11,&12. Mr.Kassoff has penned two utterly beautiful ballads in You Are the World to Me and I Remember.I think that You are the World to Me, with it's melody and tonality/key changes, should take it's place alongside such a standard as What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life. If Francis Albert were still alive, he could make it a standard. Catherine Dupuis has started it on The Rules of the Road. Perhaps Tony B. could take it the rest of the way!!Thirdly, SWING.This CD exemplifies a swinging set (1,3,5,7,9,11).But it is balanced with sweet/beautiful tunes (2,4,6,8,10,12).You'll notice that the cuts are programmed so that this CD is like listening to a well paced set in a club.
Mr.Russ Kassoff exhibits the art of piano playing in Somewhere. On half of the cuts he is accompanied by the wonderful rhythm section of Mr Martin Wind who shows us how to play arco and use double stops as well as the swinging Mr Tim Horner who reminded me of Jeff Hamilton with his sensitive brush work. But the CD is Mr Kassoff's as he takes us on a tour of piano stylings(e.g;OP,Newborn,Evans,Mc Kenna,etc.)but personalized in his own way which results in a wonderful show of technique (e.g;double times, five key changes on cut 12,etc ) and sensitive stylings of originals and standards. I would highly recommend this CD for repeated listening because it will make you SMILE, you can SING along with most of the songs, and it is a CD balanced with SWING/SWEET tunes which will touch you.
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