PRIVATE PARTS & PIECES X - SOIRÉE

Although Anthony Phillips' first love is the guitar, particularly acoustic guitar, this is surprisingly very fine piano music here, and like his guitar music, is made special by the feelings he generates, employing beautiful minor chords, most effective when one is alone or feeling introspective with one or two others, the album has a late autumn feel, pastoral at times, lively at others, but all capturing the poignant mood only Anthony Phillips seems to be capable of. Of modern solo piano music, this is not at all reminiscient of George Winston or Suzanne Ciani. This is much more Debussy in style and form, although I wonder how amazing it would have been if some of these pieces would have been developed with additional keyboards and/or orchestration. There are many special tracks here, 'Passepied' on the livelier side, and 'After You Left' or 'Fallen Flower' on the quieter. 'Creation' is part of an old Genesis piece, unreleased, and quite magnificient, while the rest is more recently written. Comositionally, this is as fine as any of Ant's cds and that is saying a lot. Of his two all piano offerings this is the one to get and if you love this, then you will likely also enjoy 'Ivory Moon'.