Mikhail Chekalin - Historic Edition Vol. 3. Free Piano FLAC

Mikhail Chekalin "Historic Edition, Vol.3 - Free Piano (1976-1982)"
Mikhail Chekalin has been one of the most influential modern composers of the last 35 years in the former USSR, now Russia. His work was experimental; in fact, his raison d'etre was specifically to break new ground stylistically. He worked outside the boundaries of established culture, while at the same time breaching its borders when possible to expose his art and music to the people at large. The Historic Edition features 6 CDs that document unreleased music recorded during his early period. Over the span of his long career, Chekalin has produced some 40+ works that range the sonic spectrum for Post Pop, to free jazz, electronic, and Post Symphonic. During the 1970s-1980s, he made a breakthrough of sorts when the state owned Melodiya label released several albums of his music. For the most part, however he created art and produced music underneath the radar. Between 2005 and 2010, MIR Records in the USA released eight productions devoted to works by Chekalin. The label produced four CDs and four DVDs bringing his work to an entirely new worldwide audience. The MIR label now embarks on an ambitious new project by beginning the release of a series of CDs, titled the Historic Edition, featuring previously unreleased material from his personal archives.
Even though Volume 3 may stand apart from the rest of the Historic Edition series, as it will focus on revolutionizing musical progression of electronic music pioneer from Russia, it is by no means so for M. Chekalin himself. Over the span of his long career the composer paid tribute to the piano as well. The album features some pieces recorded from the mid 1970s through the early 1980s, which combines postmodern tradition with free jazz improvisation. The mix is intoxicating.
- A. PATTERSON / www.eurock.com