Blog – Arik Strauss

CD review on All About Jazz

July 25, 2014 by arik

Pianist Arik Strauss grew up in Israel and also knows about Jewish culture, but he is more influenced by the tradition of American standards than Klezmer music. However, he does have something in common with Lucette van den Berg: Both share the ability to sing from the heart. Van den Berg does this through her voice and Strauss uses the keys of the piano.

As the title of his album Mostly Ballads implies, Strauss explores the form of the ballad, and it is not an easy form to master. As fellow pianist Marc Copland once remarked in the notes to his album Haunted Heart & Other Ballads: “Playing ballads is, in many ways, the ultimate challenge. A ballad is like a window into the soul of the artist.” Read More

CD Review on Jazz In Europe

July 7, 2014 by aread

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Something resonated with me when I listened to this album. I recalled a TV interview that the legendary drummer Buddy Rich gave to Larry King back in the 1980’s. The conversation turned to classical music and King asked Rich if he had ever played with a symphony orchestra. Rich replied that he had indeed played with a number of orchestras from around the world. He loved the experience and went further to describe it as “a completely different feeling altogether.” Read Review

New CD is now available

January 9, 2013 by aread

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Arik Strauss has released his fourth CD “Mostaly Balads” on Dot Time Records in December 2012.

Mostly Ballads DT9015

“Mostly Ballads” is the fourth CD from pianist, composer and arranger Arik Strauss and his debut on Dot Time Records. Arik has performed throughout the USA, Japan and Europe with musicians including, among others, Ron McClure, Akira Tana, Shonzo Ono, Montigo Joe and Mercer Elington. Arik has returned since to Israel and in 2010 was granted an artist in residence scholarship by Israel’s Ministry of Culture and Sport for a six month residency at the Paris Cité Internationale des Arts. As an educator, Arik initiated a jazz program at the Givaataim Conservatory and holds a teaching post there. “Mostly Ballads” is a classic jazz piano trio recording featuring Tal Ronen (contrabass) and Dudu Kochav (drums) and features ten of Arik’s original compositions.

In the liner notes Arik stated that “A piano trio recording is something that I’ve had on my ‘to do list’ for some years now, a goal which I have finally had the opportunity to realize.” Production of the CD was made possible through the support of ACUM’s social and promotion fund. The repertoire recorded on this CD mostly stems from Arik’s time in Paris in 2010, inspired by Arik’s long lasting mentors J.S. Bach, Chopin, Bill Evans and Jack Reilly. “Mostly Ballads” is a CD full of surprises, a true journey through the varied influences of this very talented pianist.

Check out a few samples from the CD

[soundcloud]http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/72838143[/soundcloud]
[soundcloud]http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/72850663[/soundcloud]
[soundcloud]http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/72851158[/soundcloud]