"Like a set of fine China, Pianadelphia is characterized by its craftsmanship, delicacy and sheer beauty. Each musician shows himself to be an exquisite interpreter of the Jazz piano idiom, demonstrating how spontaneous variations of simple tunes can become memorable compositions in themselves." — All About Jazz
PIANADELPHIA is a celebration of fourteen pianists who live and work in the Philadelphia area. It is also a tribute to the history of Jazz in Philadelphia — the first great American art form, in the first great American city. Each pianist performs a composition by a legendary Philly Jazz artist, with many of the city's most accomplished players showcased alongside its more recent virtuosos.
Recording sessions were held in February, 2006, at Turtle Studios in Old City, and the studio's 1928 Steinway concert grand was the only instrument used. Within this setting, each pianist was left alone to reveal the full spectrum of their styles, the intentions of each composition, and the common threads that tie all the composers and players to an extended musical family.
In the popular imagination, "Philadelphia" represents independence, history and freedom, the cradle of American ideals. It's no surprise, then, to find a rich jazz tradition here, as well as a vibrant and pulsating community of Jazz musicians in the present. This recording is the first in a series of projects that will honor and showcase the gifts of these musicians.
