prospect recommends... : 5/2/2009Concert James Rhodes Roundhouse, 13th May, 0884 482 8008 From a thick cloud of his own tobacco smoke pianist James Rhodes emerged this February with a story to tell. Unlike so many of his contemporaries, who are groomed from infancy to please the maestros of the classical elite, Rhodes shunned his prodigious musical talent to pursue a career in financial publishing. Periods of drug misuse and self-harming ensued, culminating in a personal crisis which, as a last resort, turned him back to music. A few thousand hours of practice and several masterclasses later we have Razor Blades, Little Pills and Big Pianos, his debut recording which, in light of its confessional, if not romantic title, was received with curiosity by critics and concertgoers alike. While he has yet to rank alongside the world's best pianists, Rhodes has the advantage of real-life experience outside the classical bubble. Indeed, as someone supposedly transformed by music, he is living proof of its redemptive nature. He is also eager to relax the stifling etiquette we observe when experiencing performance. Rhodes plays in jeans, likes to natter between numbers and would have us all eating popcorn. Along with this easy manner, his choice of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart are an excellent starting point for anyone wishing to explore a classical repertoire across the genre divide, and the Roundhouse the ideal venue. Aside from his playing, which is beautifully measured and light for one so full of zeal, perhaps his greatest strength lies in his ability to weave life's tragedies and mishaps into a music from another time and place. Nick Crowe was the drummer for Gay Dad To read the full artivle please click here: http://blog.prospectblogs.com/2009/05/12/prospect-recommends-james-rhodes-at-the-roundhouse/ |