“Going back to the piano analogy […] you just have to go up to the piano and pound on the freakin’ keys."
The filtered voice that opens Pianist Envy, with the words “Chilly Gonzale-e-e-e-e-e-es,” may be off-putting or just annoying at first, but it immediately introduces you to Canadian-born Chilly Gonzales (Jason Charles Beck).
A self-described “entertainist,” Gonzales is also a producer, a Peaches, Jamie Lidell and Feist collaborator, a Euro-flavored jokester emcee and a piano virtuoso. Gonzales is a person, who isn’t interested in being anything other than at least as entertained by making music as the listener is while experiencing it.
As the beat comes in, accompanying his piano playing on the first track off Pianist Envy’s uninterrupted mix of songs, Gonzales says, “Look, entertainment isn’t killing music – it’s music that is killing entertainment.”
That first song? It’s a brilliant re-imagining of J-Kwon’s 2004 hit “Tipsy,” which lets you nod your head along to the (thankfully wordless) beat guilt-free.
Highlights include “Dangerous” by Busta Rhymes, where Gonzales makes the piano sound like Caribbean steel drums and the fast-paced piano playing of Clipse’s “Grindin’,” which is introduced by high-pitched tinkling of keys, works well.
On his blog Gonzales calls Pianist Envy, “My declaration of defiance to the rappers and beatmakers who, unbeknownst to them, leave space for my musical imagination.”
At just over 28 minutes, this unique take on the mixtape still kicks.
Cop here.
Via The Cool Hunter.
