Jazz:
~"...Eric Olsen gives interesting piano
interpretations...one of the best songs in the
collection...is Waltz for Bill (written by Eric Olsen).
Waltz for Bill allows Olsen to display his many fine
talents as a pianist. A nice song. Urban Survival will
appeal to different jazz listeners for different
reasons. Excellent solo performances." (Lee
Prosser, Jazz Review.com)
~"...I'm Old-Fashioned (arranged by Eric Olsen)...
which I found to be the most listenable track...This
group has refined their style...will surely please the
ears...The players on this album are, without
question, top notch artists and one would, without
hesitation, recommend this CD...3 stars. (John
Gilbert, EJazz News.com).
It’s not often the expression “less is more,” is really
musically meaningful. Dyad, the new Cd by
saxophonist Lou Caimano and pianist Eric Olsen
definitely achieves meaning with less. The notes on
the CD reveal something about their musical
process. Something about it is a both thoughtful,
complex, and heartfelt. Together the searching
sound reveals a sophisticated love affair between
reed and keyboard that join extremes into a
masterful potion. At times, the contradictions meld
together, edgy and tender, childlike and
sophisticated, intelligent and romantic. Lot ’s of
interesting couplings. The CD is quite varied and
includes original neo-classical compositions, latin
rhythms, and formidable jazz standards. Perfect for
a rainy day. (Saul Spangenberg Assistant Dean,
Conservatory of Music, Purchase College - SUNY)
Caimano and Olsen go back and forth through the
[too often forbidden] borders between Classical and
Jazz, with the ease of a couple of North-Mexican
coyotes crossing the Rio Grande . Please keep the
good work!
(Paquito D’Rivera)
~"...Eric Olsen gives interesting piano
interpretations...one of the best songs in the
collection...is Waltz for Bill (written by Eric Olsen).
Waltz for Bill allows Olsen to display his many fine
talents as a pianist. A nice song. Urban Survival will
appeal to different jazz listeners for different
reasons. Excellent solo performances." (Lee
Prosser, Jazz Review.com)
~"...I'm Old-Fashioned (arranged by Eric Olsen)...
which I found to be the most listenable track...This
group has refined their style...will surely please the
ears...The players on this album are, without
question, top notch artists and one would, without
hesitation, recommend this CD...3 stars. (John
Gilbert, EJazz News.com).
It’s not often the expression “less is more,” is really
musically meaningful. Dyad, the new Cd by
saxophonist Lou Caimano and pianist Eric Olsen
definitely achieves meaning with less. The notes on
the CD reveal something about their musical
process. Something about it is a both thoughtful,
complex, and heartfelt. Together the searching
sound reveals a sophisticated love affair between
reed and keyboard that join extremes into a
masterful potion. At times, the contradictions meld
together, edgy and tender, childlike and
sophisticated, intelligent and romantic. Lot ’s of
interesting couplings. The CD is quite varied and
includes original neo-classical compositions, latin
rhythms, and formidable jazz standards. Perfect for
a rainy day. (Saul Spangenberg Assistant Dean,
Conservatory of Music, Purchase College - SUNY)
Caimano and Olsen go back and forth through the
[too often forbidden] borders between Classical and
Jazz, with the ease of a couple of North-Mexican
coyotes crossing the Rio Grande . Please keep the
good work!
(Paquito D’Rivera)
Classical Piano:
~"Superb pianism" (Topeka Capital-Journal)
Piano Accompanist:
~"Eric Olsen is a singer's dream of a piano
accompanist." (The New Mexican)
~"...Eric Olsen's solid, supportive piano simply
(gave) life and substance to the melodies and text."
(David Vernier, Classics Today).
~"Eric Olsen does excellent work as...accompanist."
(Alex Morin, Audiophile Audition).
~"Splendid accompanist..." (Christopher Howell,
Classical Music Web).
~"Subtle and alert accompanist..." (Willa Conrad,
New Jersey Star-Ledger).
~"Sensitive accompanist..." (Wetpaint.com).
~"The deft and sensitive keyboard by Olsen
showcased the easy report of the two men". (Sandra
Ewon Kim, Florida Sun Sentinel).
~"Superb pianism" (Topeka Capital-Journal)
Piano Accompanist:
~"Eric Olsen is a singer's dream of a piano
accompanist." (The New Mexican)
~"...Eric Olsen's solid, supportive piano simply
(gave) life and substance to the melodies and text."
(David Vernier, Classics Today).
~"Eric Olsen does excellent work as...accompanist."
(Alex Morin, Audiophile Audition).
~"Splendid accompanist..." (Christopher Howell,
Classical Music Web).
~"Subtle and alert accompanist..." (Willa Conrad,
New Jersey Star-Ledger).
~"Sensitive accompanist..." (Wetpaint.com).
~"The deft and sensitive keyboard by Olsen
showcased the easy report of the two men". (Sandra
Ewon Kim, Florida Sun Sentinel).
Reviews
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
REVIEW OF DYAD CD - JAZZ IMPROV MAGAZINE
BY DAN BILAWSKY
"DYAD, a duo recording that fuses classical
and jazz influences begins with alto saxophonist Lou
Caimano's 'Sonata'. The first movement, 'Fugato',
establishes the mood with some oblique, angular
statements as Caimano moves over Olsen's
rhythmically charged lines. We're treated to a
minute long glimpse of overt jazz as Caimano wails
and moans with great power and passion. Olsen's
piano solo seems to owe equal debts to jazz and
classical influences here. The pianist comes out
and restates the opening melodic material as he
and Caimano wind their way through the rest of the
piece. Olsen's haunting piano work cushions
Caimano's rich, full-bodied, saxophone sound which
sighs and provides some chilling moments on
'Ballad for a Lonely Child'. This second movement
of Caimano's 'Sonata' has hints of New Age music
buried within the melodic and harmonic DNA of the
piece. Caimano's liner notes hit the nail on the
head when he writes that 'Thelonius Monk meets
Count Basie meets Arnold Schoenberg' on '12
More-or Less.' This piece is 'a 12-bar blues written
on a 12-tone row', though Caimano does note that
'it's actually 11-11/16 measures long!' Caimano,
possessing a more classically influenced bright tone
here, swoons, swings and bounces over Olsen's
rollicking piano work. 'Contemplation,' the final
movement of the Sonata, is the most passionate
and pure jazz statement in this work. The Latin
influences are apparent and Olsen establishes the
groove of the piece. Caimano's fiery playing, full
with fast runs and soulful declarations, effortlessly
glides over Olsen's fine piano playing. Olsen
counters Caimano with an equally exciting solo,
which shows a bit more restraint in dynamic
contrasts.
Eric Olsen briefly takes on the role of bass
player as he provides a walking bass line behind
Caimano on 'Beautiful Love.' Following this section,
where Olsen is in the pure accompanist role, both
men get down to business with some seriously fun
swinging as they romp their way through this
engaging and original Olsen arrangement of this
tune. The longest track on the album, clocking in at
just less than eleven minutes, is their interpretation
of Ellington's 'In A Sentimental Mood.' While
Caimano delivers the melody of the tune with
passion and grace, Olsen fills in beneath his
long-held notes with rich and provocative sounds.
The pianist then takes things down a notch to
establish a late-night candlelit jazz club-type mood
during his solo. When Caimano reappears in the
song things start to take on a firmer rhythmic drive
though still remaining soft and seductive enough to
stay in the established direction. While 'The
Hallucinogenic Toreador' might sound like a song
title from an album by The Bad Plus, this song is
actually a gorgeous Spanish-tinged Olsen
composition. A Piazzolla sound or influence can be
heard in this piece and romance and intrigue are
born out of Olsen's wonderful playing. Caimano's
'Waltz For Karg-Elert" ends the album with Olsen
driving things underneath and Caimano riding atop
it all."
BY DAN BILAWSKY
"DYAD, a duo recording that fuses classical
and jazz influences begins with alto saxophonist Lou
Caimano's 'Sonata'. The first movement, 'Fugato',
establishes the mood with some oblique, angular
statements as Caimano moves over Olsen's
rhythmically charged lines. We're treated to a
minute long glimpse of overt jazz as Caimano wails
and moans with great power and passion. Olsen's
piano solo seems to owe equal debts to jazz and
classical influences here. The pianist comes out
and restates the opening melodic material as he
and Caimano wind their way through the rest of the
piece. Olsen's haunting piano work cushions
Caimano's rich, full-bodied, saxophone sound which
sighs and provides some chilling moments on
'Ballad for a Lonely Child'. This second movement
of Caimano's 'Sonata' has hints of New Age music
buried within the melodic and harmonic DNA of the
piece. Caimano's liner notes hit the nail on the
head when he writes that 'Thelonius Monk meets
Count Basie meets Arnold Schoenberg' on '12
More-or Less.' This piece is 'a 12-bar blues written
on a 12-tone row', though Caimano does note that
'it's actually 11-11/16 measures long!' Caimano,
possessing a more classically influenced bright tone
here, swoons, swings and bounces over Olsen's
rollicking piano work. 'Contemplation,' the final
movement of the Sonata, is the most passionate
and pure jazz statement in this work. The Latin
influences are apparent and Olsen establishes the
groove of the piece. Caimano's fiery playing, full
with fast runs and soulful declarations, effortlessly
glides over Olsen's fine piano playing. Olsen
counters Caimano with an equally exciting solo,
which shows a bit more restraint in dynamic
contrasts.
Eric Olsen briefly takes on the role of bass
player as he provides a walking bass line behind
Caimano on 'Beautiful Love.' Following this section,
where Olsen is in the pure accompanist role, both
men get down to business with some seriously fun
swinging as they romp their way through this
engaging and original Olsen arrangement of this
tune. The longest track on the album, clocking in at
just less than eleven minutes, is their interpretation
of Ellington's 'In A Sentimental Mood.' While
Caimano delivers the melody of the tune with
passion and grace, Olsen fills in beneath his
long-held notes with rich and provocative sounds.
The pianist then takes things down a notch to
establish a late-night candlelit jazz club-type mood
during his solo. When Caimano reappears in the
song things start to take on a firmer rhythmic drive
though still remaining soft and seductive enough to
stay in the established direction. While 'The
Hallucinogenic Toreador' might sound like a song
title from an album by The Bad Plus, this song is
actually a gorgeous Spanish-tinged Olsen
composition. A Piazzolla sound or influence can be
heard in this piece and romance and intrigue are
born out of Olsen's wonderful playing. Caimano's
'Waltz For Karg-Elert" ends the album with Olsen
driving things underneath and Caimano riding atop
it all."