Gabriel's Message / l'Ange Gabriel

Two new reviews just in!
See below:

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"Pour les Fêtes, Herskowitz à son meilleur
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Doté d'une technique remarquable, le pianiste Matt Herskowitz livre ici un disque solo où rejaillissent ses plus belles qualités. À croire que les grands airs des Fêtes, américains (Frosty The Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Christmas Song), traditionnels (Adeste Fideles, Greensleeves, etc.) ou issus de cultures non anglophones (basque, ukrainienne), révèlent ce qu'il y a de plus riche chez ce musicien. Intensité et droiture dans le jeu, interprétation personnelle et sensible du répertoire, préservation de l'esprit de ces airs. Prenons l'exemple de Sainte Nuit : les cadences engendrées par la main gauche du pianiste montréalais témoignent d'une solide formation classique alors que sa main droite révèle une sensibilité nettement plus jazzy. Ce côté plus rigide et plus cartésien au plan rythmique contraste ainsi avec l'exubérance jazzistique que l'on contemple dans ses impros et progressions harmoniques. Prenons maintenant l'exemple de Greensleeves, tout en grappes d'harmonie virevoltantes, typiques de la virtuosité classique; cet autre éclairage mène à croire que Matt Herskowitz est de ces virtuoses oscillant entre musique écrite de tradition européenne et jazz moderne. Pourquoi choisir lorsque ça fonctionne?"

- Alain Brunet
La Presse, Montréal

In English:

For the holidays, Herskowitz at his best
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"Endowed with a remarkable technique, pianist Matt Herskowitz delivers here a solo disc which highlights the sum of his most beautiful qualities. Believe it or not, his arrangements of the great American holiday classics (Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Christmas Song), traditional songs (Adeste Fideles, Greesleeves, etc.) and carols from non-anglophone cultures (Basque, Ukrainien) reveal the richest sides of this musician; intensity, extreme precision, personal interpretation, and sensitivity to the repertoire, always preserving the spirit of these tunes. For expample, in Silent Night, the phrases engendered by the left hand of the Montreal pianist demonstrate a solid classical background, while his right hand reveals a clearly jazzier sensitivity. The more rigid, Cartesian rhythmic side thus contrasts with the jazzier exuberance we experience in his improvisations and harmonic progressions. Let's take Greensleeves, for instance, with it's swirling clusters of harmony, typical of classical virtuosity; this duality leads us to believe that Matt Herskowitz is one of these virtuosos who oscillate between written music of the European tradition and modern jazz. Why choose when it works?"

- Alain Brunet, La Presse, Montreal

"Pianist Matt Herskowitz is one of those gifted instrumentalists trained in the classics who felt the call to individual expression that is the hallmark of jazz. Here in the second jazz CD under his name Herskowitz tackles the Christmas repertoire and does some amazing things with the harmonies and dynamics. Though most of the material is played to death, you will be caught up by his infusion of drama, even mystery, to these pieces. The only quibble is with a keyboard attack that at times is overly agressive. Most impressive are the title track, based on a traditional Basque melody, an 11-minute development of Frosty the Snowman, and a shimmering rendition of Carol of the Bells from the tune by Ukraine's Mykola Leontovych."

- Irwin Block
The Gazette, Montréal

CD Baby has also reviewed Gabriel's Message. Click here to read their review:

http://www.christmasreviews.com/wherskowitz2.shtml

Robert Cummings (for Classical.net) writes about Gabriel's Message:

"This is the most unusual Christmas album I’ve ever encountered. Actually, in a sense, it’s unfair to limit it to the realm of Christmas music, because most of what’s on this CD reaches well beyond the moods and sentiments associated with that most commercial of our holidays.......... In the end, this album offers individuality and character, despite packaging that might suggest it’s just another Christmas-favorites album. The sound is vivid and the notes, mostly by Herskowitz, are informative. Strongly recommended."

Click here to read the entire review

"......impressive new jazz crossover settings with an edge to keep you listening..."
TIME OUT NEW YORK

"...(Gabriel's Message) is technically flawless...light years advanced harmonically....(Matt) is a giant..."
DAVE BRUBECK

"Gabriel's Message is a pianistic fireworks, and, for those who love and appreciate intelligent crossover, it's music for more than just contemplative evenings under the christmas tree."
JAZZPODIUM (Germany)

"...with Gabriel's Message, Matt Herskowitz shows himself to be a creative and courageous pianist. It's probably not an overstatement to say that Herskowitz is likely the most brilliant and creative musician between classical and jazz today."
Die ALTERNATIVE (Germany)

"Bold. Provocative. Thoughtful. Imaginative. Spiritual. Pianist Matt Herskowitz's captivating solo piano interpretations of holiday classics breathe fresh life into a repertoire of war horses."
ALBANY TIMES UNION

"...an elegant reworking of several well-known Christmas carols that might, if you're crazy, bring a tear to your eye, and at the very least make you appreciate songs that would normally rest on your psyche like a finger on your uvula."
MONTREAL MIRROR

"Keith Jarrett might say, "Wish I'd done that," but he didn't.
Bah,humbug, if you don't get it."
HOUR, MONTREAL