The
Piano Guys just released their second CD, named simply The
Piano Guys 2, on the Sony label; the first one (reviewed
here) was The Piano Guys. No mystery there.
Curiously,
though, they are actually just one piano guy — longtime
performer Jon Schmidt; one cello guy — facially expressive
Steven Sharp Nelson; and three multi-functional cohorts in making the
videos whose YouTube popularity catapulted the five Utah dads to
national fame. (You can catch them on talk shows and PBS specials
from Red Butte Gardens.)
In
case anyone’s wondering, the other three guys are
arranger/percussionist Al van der Beek and videographers Tel Stewart
and Paul Andersen. Regardless of what they’re called, they’ve
successfully bridged the gap between classical and cool with
inventive arrangements featuring new age sounds and sound effects,
interesting nuances and textures, and abundant surprises.
For
example, their premier album’s “Over the Rainbow/Simple
Gifts” is a cheery fusion of traditional and modern. Echoes of
Star Wars are heard in “Cello Wars,” and snatches
of the Fifth Symphony surface in “Beethoven’s Five
Secrets.” The haunting “Arwen’s Vigil” is an
original creation of van der Beek, Schmidt, and Nelson. Mind-boggling
imaginations these guys have!
Who
cares what they call themselves? The Piano Guys’ successful
blend of acoustic and electric sounds appeals across genres and
generations (and the first Sony CD is a surprising $9.99).
Josh
Wright’s piano expertise ranges from classical to pop, and his
accolades likewise from winner of an International Chopin Competition
to No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The same enticing range appears on
his self-titled new album, Josh Wright. It’s
actually his fourth but the first to be produced by Shadow Mountain
($16.98), following a couple of successful concert appearances at BYU
Women’s Conference.
Young
Wright took his cue from other successful LDS artists and has managed
to skillfully and beautifully blend hymns with classical pieces,
although he also lets Chopin, Ravel, and Liszt have their own space
on this album. His “Claire de Lune/ How Great thou Art”
combo is gentle genius. The talented Sam Cardon orchestrated and/or
arranged several pieces Josh plays.
You
can hear Cardon’s signature sounds in some of the arrangements,
including a mix of the adagio movement from Rachmaninoff’s
Concerto no. 2 in C minor and “Abide with Me, ‘Tis
Eventide.” Josh’s own bluesy arrangement of “Homeward
Bound” is dedicated to Cardon, who’s obviously had a
major influence on the young pianist.
Likewise,
Wright’s rendition of Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a
Theme of Paganini” (18th Variation) is dedicated to
his University of Utah piano professor, Susan Duehlmeier.
No
gimmicks here — just a classically trained, highly skilled, and
creative pianist giving his all on some old and new classics that
appeal to good taste.
Laurie
Williams Sowby has been writing since second grade and getting paid
for it since high school. Her byline ("all three names, please")
has appeared on more than 6,000 freelance articles published in
newspapers, magazines, and online.
A
graduate of BYU and a writing instructor at Utah Valley University
for many years, she proudly claims all five children and their
spouses as college grads.
She
and husband, Steve, have served three full-time missions together,
beginning in 2005 in Chile, followed by Washington D.C. South, then
Washington D.C. North, both times as young adult Institute teachers.
They are currently serving in the New York Office of Public and
International Affairs
During
her years of missionary service, Laurie has continued to write about
significant Church events, including the rededication of the Santiago
Temple by President Hinckley and the groundbreaking for the
Philadelphia Temple by President Eyring. She also was a Church
Service Missionary, working as a news editor at Church Magazines,
between full-time missions.
Laurie
has traveled to all 50 states and at least 45 countries (so far).
While home is American Fork, Utah, Lincoln Center and the
Metropolitan Museum of Art have provided a comfortable second home.
Laurie
is currently serving a fourth full-time mission with her husband in
the New York Office of Public and International Affairs. The two
previously served with a branch presidency at the Provo Missionary
Training Center. The oldest of 18 grandchildren have been called to
serve missions in New Hampshire and Brisbane, Australia.
