in Reviews

A thriving piano alliance

by Jan-Erik Holmberg

"The collaboration flourishes beautifully, with the two pianos almost becoming one through spectacular voicings."

Frank Carlberg joins up with the elder master Ran Blake (b. 1935) for a wide-ranging program of piano duos. The ivory ticklers mostly perform older songs; standards, and movie themes but also revisit some compositions by Blake.

A native of Helsinki, Carlberg has resided and worked in New York for decades.

The selections of the album range from well-known songs like Take The A Train, or Tea For Two to somewhat curious choices, like Vradiazi by Mikis Theodorakis, or the 70s soul hit Wish I Could Talk To You, by The Sylvers.

The collaboration flourishes beautifully, with the two pianos almost becoming one through spectacular voicings. A common aesthetic goal seems to unite the performers, and, despite the wide variety of the material, the pianists form a whole.

RAN BLAKE & FRANK CARLBERG: Gray Moon 

Ran Blake, piano
Frank Carlberg, piano

Red Piano Records RPR 14599-4440