Chilly Gonzales is a Canadian who lives in Paris. He’s an “amateur” rapper who’s recently been performing his raps with symphony orchestra. “The Reminder,” the 2007 album he produced with Feist, was nominated for a Grammy. In 2009 he set a Guinness World Record for the longest concert by a solo artist; he played piano for over 27 hours. He’s challenged other pianists to public piano battles—and has won. He regularly performs dressed in pajamas and bathrobe. He has declared himself a musical genius.
Chilly Gonzales has also just released “Solo Piano II,” an album of beautifully proportioned pieces that are easy to enjoy, but hard to classify. And now Chilly Gonzales joins David Garland in the WNYC Studio to perform his music, and for a lively conversation about the ideas behind it.
This show first aired Oct. 7, 2012. Gonzales will perform at Lincoln Center on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Chilly Gonzales "Knight Moves" on WNYC's Spinning On Air
Chilly Gonzales "Train of Thought" on WNYC's Spinning On Air
Chilly Gonzales "White Keys" & "Rideaux Lunaires" on WNYC's Spinning On Air
- Chilly Gonzales performs his Piano Concerto No. 1 at Lincoln Center, Jan. 11
- Chilly Gonzales performs Supervillain Live with Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna
- Gonzales vs Jean-Francois Zygel - The Piano Battle
- Gonzales vs Andrew WK - The Piano Battle
- The final moments of Gonzales setting a new world record for longest solo concert
- Gonzales & Feist - When I Was a Young Girl
- ChillyGonzales.com
Comments [2]
@John Sullivan
Do you mean in a 'purist' sense? I think improvisation not be interpreted in anyway you like. It can come in so many different forms that perhaps its you showing ignorance? How exactly do you 'understand JAZZ'? Do you even need to? You might analyse a piece of music in your way, I mine and Chilly Gonzalez in his - and none of us would be wrong.
This interview was one of the most frustrating things I've ever heard on the radio. If you don't understand JAZZ, you shouldn't analyze the music of the geniuses that have created it. I am appalled that wnyc would acknowledge this gentleman as a talented musician, let alone his ignorance regarding improvisation.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.