One of the rising stars on the contemporary jazz scene is, without a doubt, Greek pianist Tania Giannouli. SOLO is her first unaccompanied recording, with which she makes an undeniable impression.
Her last album, IN FADING LIGHT (2020), opened doors for her on key jazz stages in Europe. The reviews from observant journalists were enthusiastic, and she soon attracted interest from major jazz festivals.
As is obvious to everyone now, Giannouli is an extremely gifted musician and composer. She knows how to create an original and adventurous palette of musical colours and experiences, investing her performances with a compelling range of emotional resonances. Truly, a phenomenon is born.
On SOLO, her first album of solo piano music, everything about why she is so special comes together. Her musical sources are difficult to gauge because they penetrate her playing from so many sides at once. From the freedom of jazz, we hear classical elements, traditional oriental elements, contemporary timbres, as well as distinct melodic influences from her native culture.
Her playing is sparkling and full of life, always skirting the edges of melancholy. Listen to the fantastic Prelude, and you'll hear what I mean. SOLO is fully in line with the incomparable solo performances she has already given (images of which can be found online), where audiences have been unanimous in their praise.
It may seem at first that 24 pieces on a single album might be a heavy overload to approach, but Giannouli connects all the pieces perfectly with short intros, preludes and soundscapes so that time simply flies by. Added to which, everything she plays is so deeply engrossing it's hard to believe that this was not a live performance but a studio recording captured in the moment.
Giannouli's playing is open, emotional, adventurous and elusive, with ever-changing maneuvers that are unexpected and exciting and frequently full of emotion. Perfectly balanced; subdued and exuberant; dynamic and inquisitive; Giannouli pulls everything she can out of the piano to realise wonderful and fascinating new heights on improvised solo piano music.