When Steinway & Sons introduced Spirio – the first player piano that is indistinguishable from a live performance – they made some big promises. They promised that the music would be free. They promised that the library would be updated regularly. They even promised music that you would actually want to listen to… and they are keeping all of their promises.
Steinway’s past updates have been impressive, featuring Steinway Artists including emerging sensation Yuja Wang, jazzman Bill Charlap, and the charismatic virtuoso Lang Lang. In these dog days of summer, Spirio has added a lot of incredibly cool music.
For “back to school season” they added “music for children to hear and to learn”, classical piano works that follow a child’s day from breakfast to bedtime. It’s illustrated piano music, featuring a charming accompaniment video that is delightful for all ages – especially if they enjoy it together. It is easy to imagine parents or grandparents listening to Melody’s Musical Day and then talking about – and playing – the songs they heard.
Another standout addition in August are the performances by David Osborne, the “Pianist to the Presidents.” As an artist, Osborne has a knack for arranging songs you know by heart in a way that makes them sound new and refreshed. Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’ on the Spirio is the perfect way to start any summer weekend.
Steinway Artrist Antonio Pompa-Baldi
If you have not yet heard the beloved Cleveland Institute of Music professor Antonio Pompa-Baldi perform and you do not yet own a Spirio, find the closest Steinway store and ask them to let you hear his rendition of Beethoven’s ‘Waldstein Sonata,’ which has now overtaken the Vladimir Horowitz At Carnegie Hall album as my all time favorite recording of the piece. Pompa-Baldi’s take on the ‘Italian Concerto’ makes a great encore, if you are so inclined.
Grant with jazz legend and Steinway Artist David Benoit – 2016
If you only choose one to listen to David Benoit Spirio performance, let it be Vince Guaraldi’s ‘Linus and Lucy,’ which will carry you back to carefree days when you pictured yourself with the whole gang waiting for autumn and the Great Pumpkin. Like eating ice cream, it is impossible to hear this performance without smiling.
For those looking to discover artists they might not find elsewhere, Spirio again delivers this month with Simon Mulligan, a London-based artist who performs mostly in Europe and New York. You may find his work familiar.Mulligan is well known for his work on HBO’s Band of Brothers. Before you can hear him this year at Carnegie Hall and the Piano Offstage Festival in Switzerland, you can hear him perform on Spirio.
Another fun find was Jiaxin Tian. This Chinese pianist tackles Liszt’s ‘La Campanella,’ a challenging piece to play on meter, and knocks it out with remarkable control and expression. I eagerly await her next visit to anywhere remotely close. Until then, she’s on my weekly playlist.
Earning the title the “Piano Prince of New Orleans” is high praise considering the Crescent City is also home to Harry Connick, Jr., Ellis Marsalis, and Jon Batiste, but you’ll get an idea as to how Davell Crawford became one of the Big Easy’s favorite sons listening to the classic ‘St. James Infirmary.’
There is so much to hear this month and, again, these are only twelve of my favorite new tracks… the Spirio Ultimate Playlist for this month:
Clair de Lune – Yoonie Han (Debussy)
Memory – Simon Mulligan (Lloyd Webber)
Ortaffa – Jean-Francois Maljean
Sonata for Piano No 21 ‘Waldstein’ – Antonio Pompa-Baldi (Beethoven)
All of Me – Simon Mulligan (John Legend)
La Campanella – Jiaxin Tian (Liszt)
Linus and Lucy – David Benoit (Guaraldi)
Sweet Caroline – Simon Mulligan (Neil Diamond)
Rocket Man – David Osborne (Elton John)
Suite – David Braid
St. James Infirmary – Davell Crawford (Unknown)
Heard it through the Grapevine – Jed Distler (Marvin Gaye)
What are your favorites this month? Should anything be added to the playlist?