Leonid Chizhik - Leonid Chizhik in Concert (1986)

This Mobile Fidelity CD draws its music from two solo piano albums released by the Melodiya label featuring the Russian pianist Leonid Chizhik. Chizhik certainly displays his versatility throughout the performances with the playful "Spontaneous Improvisation" shifting from stride to classical music, from a waltz to hints of Oscar Peterson. The soulful "Mobious Strip" is not that far from Keith Jarrett, "Dedication" is an abstract tribute to Chick Corea and "Composition on the Theme 'Every Day We Say Goodbye'" evolves from the starkness of Ran Blake to the soulful Ray Bryant and eventually classical music. Despite all of the name-dropping, Chizhik has actually developed his own powerful two-handed style. Fond of suddenly shifting moods or styles, Leonid Chizhik is often long-winded but his unpredictable playing makes this CD a very refreshing recording.


Tracks:

01. Mobius Strip (Chizhik) - 8:57
02. Composition on the Theme "Embraceable You" by George Gershwin (Chizhik) - 7:17
03. Spontaneous Improvisation (Chizhik) - 5:26
04. Composition on the Theme "Every Day We Say Goodbye" by Cole Porter (Chizhik) - 11:11
05. Alka (Chizhik) - 9:52
06. Participation ("Prichastnost") (Chizhik) - 6:32
07. Dedication ("Posviashcheniye") (Chizhik) - 15:30
08. Composition on the Theme "Creole Love Call" by Duke Ellington (Chizhik) - 6:34

Leonid Chizhik - piano
Recorded at the "October" Concert-Cinema Hall in 1986 (#1-5) and at the "Warsaw" Concert Hall, Moscow and the Leningrad Capella in 1980 (#6-8).