Release Date: December 16, 2023
Label: Independent
Website
Paul Barton's Mayumi Kato Piano Works, Volume 1, was
released in 2016; however, it was released for streaming on December 16, 2023.
The music was brought to my attention because of the quality and importance of
the works. Paul is a multi-talented artist who plays the piano as a concert
pianist, is classically trained, and is a prolific painter. Those two elemental
artistic expressions go hand in hand. Mayumi Kato is a superb composer who
deserved to have her compositions translated and performed by such an eloquent
and precise instrument as the piano and played by Paul Barton.
"Butterfly" is the first track. It is just under two
minutes; however, its gracefulness and beauty epitomize the flight of that
gentle and colorful insect. The length of the track is inconsequential as its
beauty is stunning and goes straight to your heart.
"Summer Breeze," like the previous track, symbolizes
its title. The warmth and rhythm of the music sweep you away in the 2:26 time
frame. It proves that the artist expertly utilizes time and space to leave a
lasting impression on the listener.
"Alone" is complex and rhythmic and gives you the
impression of loneliness happening rapidly; as the track is played while
thinking of that state of mind, it comes across with emphasis and power,
although beautifully played on the piano. Is there beauty and complexity in
loneliness? It depends on who you are, how you interpret it, and what it means.
Living in the U.S. Northeast, you find "Snow" to be a
very relatable topic. Although December is almost over, and the temperature is
hovering around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, we all know it's coming. The keys on the
piano are the snowflakes falling in your mind's eye.
"Kyoto" sounds like a person stepping gently along a
pathway to their destination. It is very gentle and inviting.
"Three Etudes" starts with a dark chord and then
launches into a rolling piano verse. The pace changes quickly, becoming more emotional
and purposeful to depict the storyline. Each very brief break offers a
different section of the composition, showing the versatility and incredible
talent of the artist.
"Heaven" is whatever you see it as. Individually, we
all have our vision and process. Unfortunately, we must wait to see and
experience it, or can we create it here on Earth? It's a choice. Paul expresses
his version of the composition through his nimble fingers. A touch of heaven
indeed.
"Lovely Snow" brings us back to the weather but in a
different context. It can be viewed as a nuisance and dangerous; however,
anyone can see it as one of nature's gifts. The track expresses that natural
exquisiteness that falls upon the evergreens to form a painting of quiet beauty
and loveliness.
"Destiny" is a powerful word that implies the meaning
and path of one's life on this planet. Paul's playing is enduring and
expressive, immersing you in the word's meaning and implications. The sound is
majestic.
"Kite in the Wind" (Mayumi's maiden work) is about freedom. The different shapes, sizes, and
colors decorate the blue sky like a portrait of life. In just under two
minutes, the artist puts the vision of a kite into your mind and relaxes you,
allowing you to let go of stress and tension through the music.
"Cherry Blossom in Spring Wind" is another track
relating to nature and all its wonders, beauty, and odors that capture your
attention, and you find appreciation for all of it. The track is another
outstanding rhythmic journey that paints that picture so wonderfully. Paul's
rapid playing is precise and thoughtful.
"Little Princess" is as gentle and perfect as a child
princess can be in real life, as in royalty or memories of one's daughter
dressing up like a princess and living the part in their imagination. I hold
those memories, and my daughter will always be my little princess regardless of
age—such a warm and tender composition. It is one of the longer tracks,
clocking in at 5:24 minutes, allowing many thoughts and images to cross your
mind. I particularly enjoyed some of the changes within that timeframe. It goes
from slow and meaningful to quicker pacing to inject excitement into the story.
It touched my soul.
"Life - That's Not True" is upbeat, colorful, and full
of life. It is trying to get your attention to listen to the music and look at
the meaning of the words. Mission accomplished, and the music got the point
across.
"Geisha - My Story" is 6:06 minutes of the purest form
of piano to tell this important story.
(Geisha (芸者) ( /
ˈɡeɪʃə /; Japanese: [ɡeːɕa] ), [1] [2] also known as geiko (芸子) (in
Kyoto and Kanazawa) or geigi (芸妓), are a
class of female Japanese performing artists and entertainers)
I appreciated the complexities of the composition and how it
sounded like more than one person playing the piano. It is a masterwork of
contemporary and classical music that the composer and musician should take
great pride in presenting. The piano playing is extraordinary, and you will
love it if you enjoy instrumentals of this kind. The changes are dramatic and
compelling.
"Winter Waltz" brings that magnificent season back to
close out this fifteen-track instrumental recording. I could picture a
ballerina gliding across the stage gracefully, this music playing in the background,
choreographing every step and movement. This track and the entire recording are
about sound, color, and movement, just like Mother Nature.
Mayumi Kato Piano Works, Volume 1, was a joy
to listen to. Every recording element was on point from beginning to end,
including composition, substance, meaning, engineering, clarity of sound, and,
most importantly, musicianship beyond comparison.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Founder
December 28, 2023
Tracks:
01. Butterfly
02. Summer Breeze
03. Alone
04. Snow
05. Kyoto
06. Three Etudes
07. Heaven
08. Lovely Snow
09. Destiny
10. Kite in the Wind
11. Cherry Blossom in Spring Wind
12. Little Princess
13. Life - That's Not True
14. Geisha - My Story
15. Winter Waltz
