Even if Maurice Ravel reportedly didn’t play his compositions very well, Andy Emler, the French pianist and composer, who toured Finland in late August, played phenomenally his own compositions that sounded like Ravel.
After Emler had entertained the intimate crowd at Villa Hakasalmi in Helsinki located next to the Finlandia Hall not too far from the Töölö Bay, by playing solo piano and sharing stories of the former French composer (1875–1937)—who is noted for his musical craftsmanship and impeccable form and famously known for composing “Bolero” for a large orchestra—Emler joined forces with Finnish double bassist Eero Tikkanen.
Emler started fingering a song called “Pres De Son Nom,” a haunting ballad with underlying tones reminiscent of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major.
This was, hands on keys, a Humdinger with a capital H.
Tikkanen joined, and the two maestros went for lengthy improvisations while sharing stares without batting an eyelid. This was the penultimate number! And the crowd that had sat quiet and attentive for most of the concert, erupted in cheery applause.
“We were definitely on the same wavelength,” Emler said after the show.
https://finlandtoday.fi/frenchman-and-finn-find-synergy-in-jazz-compositions-inspired-by-ravel/”>