Preview: Alex Nackman – This Revolution

New York City based Alex Nackman is no musical novice, having five albums under his belt as well as being a proficient writer and producer, and his work takes a further turn in his latest album “This Revolution“.

Taking influence from a plethora of ’90s sounds including Duran Duran, New Order, The Cure and U2, it’s no surprise that – despite the fact that you hear a strong guitar influence in his music – there’s also a lot of synthesiser goodness oozing through the soundscape.

Not to mention acoustic piano. Take a look at a snap of the gorgeous studio Alex works in and you’ll see a grand piano as well as assorted xylophones/glockenspiels. There’s definitely an Alesis synth floating around too.

One reviewer described This Revolution as “paced exceptionally well. Moving from one song to the next seems like a natural progression… There are a fair number of songs that immediately pull you in with either a really great drum groove, an interesting repeated melody line, or a combination of both.”

Another described it as “sonically full” with “an edge” and a sounds that’s “incredibly durable”.

Get a taste of the album with the fourth track “Burn from the Rockets”:

Get loads more info on Alex Nackman’s YouTube channel, Facebook page and official web site.

Download the album from iTunes

For those itching to know about some of the gear that Alex uses, here we go:

• Nord Electro 75
• Mooger Vintage Synth
• Summit Audio TLA-50 Compressor
• Universal Audio LA-610
• Neumann TLM67
• Electro Harmonix Memory-Man Delay
• Keeley OCD Pedal

Baldwin Classic Petite Cherry Grand Piano [eBay]

A beautiful Baldwin Classic Petite acoustic Grand Piano in cherry wood, in near mint condition, available via this auction.

Bösendorfer creates first “Artist Series” piano [NAMM12]

Bösendorfer has announced its Model 200 SPGK “Klimt”, the first in a new line of “Artist Series” acoustic grand pianos.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt.

This new model features:

• The Klimt model will be limited to a maximum of 25 units
• Each unit will have an individually numbered solid brass plate
• Made in cooperation with the Belvedere Museum, Vienna
• High resolution image of “The Kiss” and through advanced reprographic techniques is on the inside of the lid of our 200 model
• Our craftsmen further customize it by applying additional elements of real gold leaf

That’s all the information we have, but you can see from the picture how special it looks.

A 25 instrument special edition. Bösendorfer. Acoustic grand piano.

How much will it cost? If you have to ask that, you definitely can’t afford it.

Bösendorfer Model 155 SP compact grand piano introduced [NAMM12]

Those wanting the amazing acoustic grand piano experience but in a smaller frame size will be interested to here that renowned piano maker Bösendorfer (owned by Yamaha) has revealed its Model 155 SP.

As model numbers reflect the length of the piano in centimetres, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that this grand piano is 155cms (about 5 foot 1 inch) in length.

Before this, Bösendorfers were a minimum of 170cms (5 foot 7 inches) in length.

It’s the first new model from Bösendorfer in a decade, featuring the customary single stringing, separately cast screwed–on capo d’astro and the open pin block on the cast iron plate, resonant case principle with no corner joints as per the model 170, and the same key length as models 170-200.

That’s it. That’s all you’re getting for now. Hopefully we’ll get information about availability in due course.

Steve Jobs: Bösendorfer grand piano fan

Among all the tributes to Apple’s former CEO, Steve Jobs, came an interesting tidbit from a close friend, Austin technologist Andrew Heller:

After dinner, Steve and I and the baby would sit under the Bösendorfer. When Steve bought the Bösendorfer for Apple, he bought one for himself. So he had two of these nine-foot grands. He would play with the baby under the Bösendorfer when we were working.

It seems that, not just in the field of cutting-edge technology, Steve Jobs had an eye for beauty and function together — something the Bösendorfer encapsulates.

(Via KUT News)

Sound Magic releases Bosendorfer-inspired Imperial Grand software

Sound Magic has made a big splash in announcing its new Imperial Grand software and VSTi versions for Windows.

Based on a rich, dark Bosendorfer grand piano, it uses a patented NEO Hybrid Modelling Engine and Artificial Intelligence Assistance Tool in an attempt to go beyond what many digital pianos (both hardware and software based) can offer.

The AI tool is supposed to help pianists to shape the sound and style of piano they want, without using a lot of technical sound engineer jargon that tends to lead to confusion and frustration.

AI tests the connected keyboard, recording its velocity response and pedal support, and then makes suggestions on how the sound can be shaped to the player’s liking.

The Imperial Grand software includes HD Velocity Layers, claiming to be 500 times more sensitive than the 127 velocity steps commonly found on MIDI controller keyboards. It includes features like adding subtle nuances to notes repeated at the same velocity, helping to remove the ‘flat’ feeling sometimes associated with digital pianos. Notes are melded more accurately during legato passages, improving realism.

Other features include the ability to virtually move microphone positions to achieve a different sound. The 264-string Sympathetic Resonance System adds harmonies to pedal up and down notes. True Staccato Mode more accurately reproduces these notes when played, while a built-in professional reverb engine simulates resonances found in a real soundboard.

Here’s the product page. It costs €99 and comes with €50 worth of add-ons.

Piano is ultimate art status symbol

Much as I like my digital piano, it’s really only a substitute for the real thing. I love acoustic grand pianos, and it’s only a lack of space and money — yes, only — that’s stopping me from having one.

Naturally I love the sound and feel, and also the look. However, I’m not sure I’d go so far as to have the body customised.

Yet some are using the grand piano to make an artistic statement.

Steinway & Sons recently created a $1.5m art case piano for a Chinese art collector. Bösendorfer works with artists and architects to style a client’s perfect piano.

“The piano is more than a musical instrument. It is a symbol of sophistication, spiritual and financial wealth,” says Tibor Szabo, whose San Francisco firm restores and sells European art case pianos.

Very high quality pieces can appreciate significantly in value as art itself, though “ordinary” grand pianos, when well looked after, also hold and increase their value after about five years, according to experts.

An art case piano not only is a sublime expression of the musical and visual arts but may be a rewarding personal investment as well, a piece of “living furniture” to be experienced to its fullest (given proper care) even four or five generations from now.

Via

Yamaha intros two new acoustic grand pianos: C3XA, C6XA

Yamaha has updated its line of C Series acoustic grand pianos with the introduction of the C3XA and C6XA, enhancing the design of the soundboard, the ribs, and the braces.

The two instruments have the following features:

Soundboard and ribs

In order to give shape to the rich reverberation of the XA, Yamaha focused on the soundboard’ s crown. The piano’ s strong ribs have been redesigned and glued to the soundboard, resulting in a perfectly shaped crown with excellent stability.

Braces

In order to integrate the braces perfectly with the soundboard, the ribs, and the instrument as a whole, their design has been totally revamped – for example, the back beam, which is located behind the key bed, is now considerably larger. Thanks to these enhancements, the piano delivers a sound that is solid and sustained, powerful and splendidly resonant.

Music wire

To accentuate the acoustic properties of the instrument as a whole, the XA features a new type of music wire, capable of producing a wonderfully bright, highly present sound.

Music holder

The music holder has been redesigned for the pianist who appreciates the joy of playing just as much as the piano’ s exquisite tone, with a shape that embodies the rich sound and exquisite tone of the XA. Meanwhile, the lamp stand on the right-hand side sports the XA insignia with pride. These, together with a host of other enhancements, conjure up an air of luxury while portraying a visual interpretation of the piano’ s sound.

Pricing of acoustic pianos is notoriously difficult so we’ll leave that to your ingenuity. Availability to be confirmed.

Elton John donates piano to BBC Radio 2

Sir Elton John, blessed with more than one piano, has donated his signed Yamaha DC7 to BBC Radio 2.

Marking Sir Elton’s unique contribution to the UK radio industry, it will be used in a series of unique live performances on shows including Weekend Wogan, Radio 2 In Concert, Jamie Cullum’s weekly jazz show and Friday Night Is Music Night. The piano will also be available to artists who perform tracks from The Great British Songbook on Simon Mayo’s Drivetime show.

Lewis Carnie, Head of Programming, Radio 2 and 6 Music, commented, “It’s rare that Radio 2 receives such a generous gift, and we’d like to thank Elton for offering artists who visit the station the opportunity to perform on it and, hopefully, interpret Elton’s own work.”

Yamaha CF Series of handcrafted concert grand pianos introduced

Yamaha has announced its new CF Series of handcrafted acoustic grand pianos.

The three models, including the full-size (9 foot) CFX concert grand, the CF4 (6’3″) and CF6 (7′), are based on extensive research and development including play testing with some of the world’s top classical performers.

The new CF Series is unique in that many artists got involved with the design,” said Mark Anderson, marketing director for Yamaha’s Keyboard Division. “Most excelled in all music genres, but the focus was on classical performance. The result is an instrument that will appeal to the world.”

“We compared prototypes on stage in large concert halls against the best our competition had to offer in order to evaluate their positive qualities, as well as their limitations. Using this knowledge, we can now offer players incredible artistic possibilities.”

The CFX replaces Yamaha’s acclaimed CFIIIS concert grand piano.

Full specifications and exact launch date are to be confirmed.

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