World United Music: piano

Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts

Monday, November 10, 2014

Dirk Maassen

About: Dirk Maassen

Born in the winter of 1970, I spent my early days in a small town near Aachen, right at the Border of the Netherlands. My first contact with music was with one of the legendary carnival processions which made me feel in so many different colors that I knew right away that music was one of the most wonderful things in life.

From the age of 10, I took lessons on piano and church organ. My teacher, the sexton of our small village took me under his wing into the church quite often to play on a huge Pipe organ which was really impressive and amazing, as it made me feel like I was sitting right inside the music and become a part of it.

When I got older, I was influenced by 80s synth pop, and bought my first synthesizer. I started playing in different synth pop bands including memorable gigs in small clubs and later in a few festivals and CD productions. Nothing too serious, but at the age of 19 my band mates and I thought we where close to a breakthrough when our first CDs appeared in the local record store with a few hundred fans joining us at our concerts ;-) Apparently there was no breakthrough so we all went our separate ways and focused on our own creative process in music.

After a long break, I found my way back to the piano in 2011 and started composing again in 2012. As I am a software engineer by day, I create music preferably early morning or late at night which is not only a matter of time but also very inspiring times for making music.

Having a background in theory and methodology in my earlier stages, I found the results of improvisation transformed my music into structured compositions over time.

My music is inspired by Einaudi, Tiersen and Nevue with influences of the 80s but not limited to these. There is no genre or style I try to adopt, as I do not want to limit my creativity. It's all about sharing impressions, emotions and vibes with others. In a way I am making "social music" and hence I love to publish my music on social networks and getting in touch with my audience one on one.

In this light I hope you enjoy my music, share it, like it and drop me a line.

CONTACT: http://www.maassen-music.com/contact.html

Dirk Maassen – Official Website

http://www.maassen-music.com/
Dirk Maassen - Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/ascoltadi
Dirk Maassen - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Dirk.Maassen.Music
VIDEO
Dirk Maassen - YouTUbe
https://www.youtube.com/user/ascoltadi
BUY MUSIC
Dirk Maassen - Bandcamp
https://dirkmaassen.bandcamp.com/
Dirk Maassen - iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/artist/dirk-maassen/id595797008
Dirk Maassen - eMusic
http://www.emusic.com/artist/dirk-maassen/14084016/
Dirk Maassen - Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00B07H4YM?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Dirk%20Maassen&index=digital-music&search-type=ss

Friday, May 10, 2013

Alexandra Stréliski

About: Alexandra Stréliski

Alexandra Stréliski is a Montreal-based pianist and composer. Her music is distinguished by its simplicity and the truth of its notes, sometimes evoking Satie, Glass and Tiersen. Imbued with both, melancholy and light, her first album, "Pianoscope" (december 2010), transports its audience into a dreamy and cinematic universe. As of today, her music is part of several film and commercial projects.

Alexandra now works as a music composer in the image and focuses more on film and thematic style. In particular, she wrote the string arrangements for her recent compositions, which will be presented (with directory Pianoscope) for the first time on stage at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal this year (2013).

Contact: Gina Brault: ginabrault@impresaria.ca

Sell music on Amazon at ReverbNation.com

Alexandra Stréliski – Official Website

Thursday, June 10, 2010

John Sokoloff

About: John Sokoloff

John Sokoloff’s music comes from his Russian-American heritage. Melodic and soulful, John's piano-based songs are unique in their lyricism and passionate honesty. Combining a variety of instruments and styles seamlessly, The John Sokoloff Band has released five compact discs of compelling, instrumental music.

John served as composer for the critically acclaimed CBS Primetime "The Bonnie Hunt Show" for David Letterman's Worldwide Pants Productions. He composed and played on the theme and all incidental music for the show.

A song from his debut cd Vacation Beach, was the featured theme for Moscow’s 850th Birthday official documentary, produced by award winning director Tofik Shefardeev. Commissioned by Mayor Lushkov and sanctioned by the Moscow government,

DVD copies of the documentary were distributed to the gathered mayors of the world’s major cities.

Additionally, The John Sokoloff Band has been heard on radio and television in the United States and Russia.

The piano-based band also allows for eclectic instrument combinations and a variety of influences - from Blues and Classical to Russian Folk.

From congas to violin, electric guitar to balalaika - the common denominator is soul…

The Albums:

Vacation Beach: Release date - 1993

"Vacation Beach refers to an area in Northern California near Guerneville on the Russian River. I spent all my summers there as a kid and had gone back in the early nineties to re-discover the ghosts of the past.

So the title is partially ironic. Many of those I looked for there were gone...

The recording process was preceded by about 4-5 months of rehearsals at CBS TV City where I was working for Carol Burnett's production company at the time. This first cd was like giving birth. No rules yet established. Seeing your work through the prism of a band: Hardly pain-free, but wonderfully cathartic...."

Valleys: Release date - 1996

“Valleys”…concerns emotional, as well as physical valleys. A reflection on a time in the 80’s when I worked as a manager of a Floor Covering Distributorship in the San Fernando Valley, while driving the 210 to Rosemead (San Gabriel Valley) on evenings to visit my then girlfriend.

It was a distinct and transcendently compelling period. Of a time, yet seemingly timeless.

A decade later when I heard she was getting married to my friend, I regressed into reflection. An epoch crystallized. Valleys was the result …”

Eastern Shadows: Release date - 1998

“Eastern Shadows”…had a terrible crush on a girl who didn’t have a terrible crush on me. However, in her reticence, she presented enough of an empty canvas on which to draw my delusions. And draw I did. Needless to say, opposites did not attract. Eastern Shadows is about reaching into a void. Grasping at smoke.

Listening to one’s own music….”

Bliss Misplaced: Release date - 2000

"Bliss Misplaced”...An artist he shuffles, when able to fly…an artist he soars, when the well does run dry...An artist shall seek, a life full of friction...where others want normalcy, he contradiction..."

Bliss Misplaced is about this masochism of the artist. Creating conflict in order to transcend it through art. Grabbing the thorns while ignoring the rose. Choice?

In The Melancholy Way: Release date - 2004

“The best way to describe In The Melancholy Way is Russian Blues. Because Russians often see life in a melancholy way. The songs styles vary with some utilizing two electric guitars, drums and a B3 Organ; while others might use a piano, violin and flute or balalaika. The common denominator is a sense of the blues…. A sense of melancholy….with a distinct minor key Russian feeling.

The band felt quite good together and we recorded several of the songs live…with minimal overdubbing…This brought an energy that makes me want to go out and perform this material. We plan on doing that.”

CONTACT: John Sokoloff

OR Write to:

The John Sokoloff Band
Orchard Avenue Records
15824 Hartland Ave
Van Nuys Calif. 91406

John Sokoloff Music (Playlist)

John Sokoloff (Live)

The Albums:

The Melancholy Way – (Full Album – 2004)

Bliss Misplaced – (Full Album – 2000)

Eastern Shadows – (Full Album – 1998)

Valleys – (Full Album - 1996)

Vacation Beach – (Full Album – 1993)

John Sokoloff LINKS:

Official Website
Soundcloud
Reverbnation
Last FM

VIDEO
YouTube
YouTube 2

STORES
iTunes
Amazon
eMusic