Internationally renowned, New York-based pianist Mirian Conti has recorded Lalo Schifrin: Piano Works, a collection of solo piano music by Grammy Winning and Academy Award Nominated Composer Lalo Schifrin...

Personally I'm not overly a fan of these piano based reworkings of composer's original works. If I want to hear the music I'd rather listen to the original as the artist intended. However, from time to time, it is interesting to soak up a piano-based reworking of music you're familiar with. On the whole, Mirian Conti does the original pieces justice, providing a lovingly crafted tribute to the life and work of Lalo Schifrin.

The only exception being the opening track, 'Mission Impossible: Main Theme' which at times sounds pretty ropey. I can't believe that all involved let this recording through without another go at recording it. It could be that it's unplayable by one person on the piano, because at times it sounded like someone who was a little rusty.

The album contains 11 tracks (1 hr, 13 min, 09 sec) and if piano based albums are your thing there's plenty to enjoy here.

Track listing:

01 - MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE: MAIN THEME (VERSION FOR PIANO) (1973/2016)
02 - TANGO: MAIN THEME, ‘TANGO DEL ATARDECER’ (VERSION FOR PIANO) (1997/2016) 03 - PAMPAS (VERSION FOR PIANO) (2009/2016)
JAZZ PIANO SONATA, OP. 1 (1963/2016)
04 - I. Allegro
05 - II. Andante
06 - III. Molto vivace
07 DANZA DE LOS MONTES (VERSION FOR PIANO) (2005/2016)
08 THEME AND 10 VARIATIONS ON AN ORIGINAL THEME (2016)
Theme: Adagio
Variation 1: Andantino
Variation 2: Claire de lune
Variation 3: Habanera
Variation 4: Theme in Search of Variation
Variation 5: Andantino
Variation 6: Allegro, ‘Jazz meets Chopin’
Variation 7: Andante
Variation 8: Moderato molto mosso
Variation 9: Andante ma non troppo
Variation 10: Allegro vivace
09 - TANGO A BORGES (VERSION FOR PIANO) (2005/2016)
10 - LA CALLE Y LA LUNA (VERSION FOR PIANO) (2005/2016)
11 - LULLABY FOR JACK (2016)

7

Darren Rea