People are still talking about Michael Houstoun's unbelievable finger velocity at his mid-week St Paul's recital of contemporary Russian works.
Nock and Houston, pianists
St Paul's Cathedral
Friday, October 15
I wonder if there is a Guinness record for the pianist with the greatest number of piano notes per second over a given time?
Houstoun would cream it!
Those busy, dizzy digits returned to St Paul's Cathedral last evening, following different pathways, as Houstoun joined in recital for alarge audience, with Australian jazz pianist and composer Mike Nock.
The programme began with Nock "doing his own thing", extemporising to the absolute limits.
At times his compositions rambled a little, but to quote from his lunchtime recital, "I make it upas I go along, just to see where it leads!"
Built-in foot percussion obbligato was often a feature, along with thick tortuous textures, in a labyrinth of jazz-based motifs and clusters.
New Zealand pianist Houstoun, particularly renowned for performing Beethoven and other classical repertoire, transferred his phenomenal technical skills to interpret a dozen or so of Nock's jazz compositions, as they were introduced with a brief description by the composer.
Each piece shone in different ways.
Morning Reverie was inspired by birdcalls of a Haast sunrise, Sho's Cradle Song was light and infectiously lyrical, whereas Cartwheels and Raff-Riff were downright supremely virtuosic.
Houstoun interpreted all with great passion and affection.
He clearly indicated the privilege he felt in performing for this composer - an international jazz-man who has gone to great effort to write down some very complex creations for others to master and enjoy.
- Elizabeth Bouman
