Solo Piano IIArts & Crafts ***

Jason Beck is an artist of many parts. There’s the merry prankster hip-hop and electro releases that are the bread and butter of his catalogue, the world record holder for longest solo concert, production work with Feist and Daft Punk, and Apple giving his Never Stop tune a worldwide platform. And Beck’s fondness for solo piano work has already produced one winning album. Like its 2004 predecessor, this set of piano ruminations is a beguiling, tranquil, moody series of sketches played along similar lines to Erik Satie’s Gymnopedies (especially on Rideaux Lunaires) and Bill Evans’ bluesier solo work. Beck is ace at coaxing sromantic soundscapes (Othello), emotional heart-tuggers (Epigram in E) and supple dramas (Minor Fantasy) from the notes. Solo Piano II displays his astute minimalism when it comes to those black and white keys. chillygonzales. com

Download tracks: Epigram in E, Othello