Search - Bill Schaeffer :: Grain of Sand

Excellent and Unique Piano Music

miket122 | Thousand Oaks, CA United States | 08/29/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Grain of Sand" is a unique blend of blues, boogie woogie, jazz and ragtime by pianist Bill Schaeffer. It's a worthy follow-up to his excellent "Piano Sole," which I'd also recommend. Schaeffer's style changes from song to song, and often within a song, to fully explore the musical possiblities of his compositions. A good example of this is "Old Time Harmonica Blues," which starts out as a traditional blues number, then explodes into a rollicking finale (and, ironically, has no harmonica!). Other favorites include the beautiful "It's Been a Long, Long Time," with it's searching, haunting melody; "Where Do I Go Now," with it's anxious, jittery uncertain feel; "Bonny's Boogie," an energetic, exciting boogie woogie song; and "Four Seasons," wistful and melancholy. A few of the songs include percussion, and sometimes it works for me ("Give the Kid a Break," which also includes some dazzling finger-work), and other times it doesn't ("Dream Song," "Lonesome Cowboy Blues"). Schaeffer's playing is terrific throughout, and he shows off a bit on the closing "Crazy 6th Boogie," which builds on his blues and boogie woogie motif until it takes off like a freight train that can't stop--lots of fun. The disc is very well recorded. I would highly recommend "Grain of Sand" for anyone who enjoys blues piano, boogie woogie, or ragtime. (Disclosure: I'm a friend of the artist, but my appreciation of his work is sincere)."