The Genre-Spanning Genius of Chilly Gonzales

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