Album Review: Serenata from Gregg Karukas

Album:  Serenata
Artist:  Gregg Karukas
Label:  Nightowl Records
Website:  www.karukas.com

Pianist Gregg Karukas presents romantic impressions of classic songs from iconic Brazilian artists Milton Nascimento and Dori Caymmi as well as new and reimagined originals penned by him on his 13th CD Serenata.  His elegant musings on the keys are dreamy, twining introspective meanderings, flowing in an eloquent phrasing. 

Deeply emotional, Karukas's playing is penetrative, luring the listener with a passionate voicing resonating from the keys.  Track after track, Karukas's thoughts and feelings are palpable.  The lift in his keys along "Tudo O Que Você Podia Ser" puts a spring in his doodles that injects a sense of urgency with a stream of rumbling notes that loosens to a ruminating glide through "Better Days."  The reflective mood of "Clube da Esquina No. 2" traverses through picturesque vignettes like a storybook or a photo album relaying a monumental time in one's life.  The skipping strides of "Paisagem da Janela" insert a sense of optimism that turns introspective and pensive along "Dori's Song."

Gregg Karukas is a soulful and thought-provoking composer and pianist whose music speaks to listeners of all ages and diversity.  He has contributed to over 100 albums for other artists and has produced, arranged and/or engineered a vast array of projects at his own Nightowl Studios.  Always interested in presenting another facet of his artistry, he takes his art in new directions with his stunning project Serenata, a scintillating gem by an artist who displays another facet of his voice.

Musicians:
Gregg Karukas - piano