Search - Ted Piltzecker :: Unicycle Man

Master Vibraphonist, Composer, and Improviser

09/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD has been one of the highlights of my year. My wife plays it too, making it a special jewel in our collection.Piltzecker has a fantastic cadre of musicians on this album, but it is perhaps more significant as a one-man tour-de-force with Piltzecker as composer, performer, and producer.Compositionally, this music would stand equally as jazz or 20th-century 'art' music and Piltzecker seems happy to sit on that fence. His harmonic sensibilities, transparent use of form, and textures created by careful layering of sounds all betray a studied composer. The music is evocative and even touching, not academic and rates with the finest work of Chick Corea and/or Gary Burton.As performer, Piltzecker gets a unique sound on the vibes that only the casual listener could ever confuse with Burton or other modern players. Clean but soulful and never taxing. His solos are truly thoughtful compositions that don't rely on tired 'licks' to assert his virtuosity.Perhaps the most unique aspect of this album is Piltzecker's occasional use of a synthesizer interface with his vibraphone. This is not just a shameless display of technology, however. Ted clearly thinks orchestratively, and to that purpose has worked out a way to add subtle but meaningful layers to a mostly acoustic session.I am also impressed with the CD as a complete package. Piltzecker seems to put a thoughtful, artistic touch on everything from the sequencing of tunes to some advice for living in the CD booklet:"Breathe deeply, and consciously." Cary Kocher"