REVIEWS
|
|
Utterback's style is incredibly varied and his compositions, originals as well as
arrangements, are sophisticated and endlessly inventive.
|
Stereo Times
|
Igor Kipnis
|
|
Utterback brings what might best be described as a composite of the greatest American
and jazz piano styles of the century a technique that makes light of every hurdle
married to contemplation and to colour and to phrasing and shaping of ideas.
|
Pianoforte, London
|
|
|
Joe Utterback's piano roars, sweeps, caresses, and romances the ear he combines
the harmonic richness of Errol Garner with the speed and passion of Josef Hoffman
big-time virtuoso piano.
|
Connoisseur Society, Inc.
|
E. Alan Silver
|
|
On behalf of Douglaston Concerts, the Queens and Nassau chapters of AGO and The
Community Church of Douglaston I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you for the stunning
and powerful concert you did. Our audience is still stopping me to express their
pleasure and joy in your program. Our lay audience was enchanted with your playing
and with you. Our professional audience members were mesmerized by your musicianship
and keyboard wizardry. We were all moved by your own compositions and their infectious,
communicative style.
|
Nassau County, New York
|
Gerald Anders, The Community Church of Douglaston
|
|
Stride with mildly dissonant punctuation, then boogie-woogie and barrelhouse styles,
Tatumesque wild chases, Garneresque right-hand chording, and more pianist tricks
and licks than should be squeezable into five minutes and his mellow Evans mode.
|
The audiophile voice
|
|
|
Utterback's solo, a Porgy and Bess medley full of pyrotechniqes brought down the
house.
|
Darien News Review, Connecticut
|
|
|
Joe is a consummate performer - he combines a truly extraordinary technique with
an encyclopedic knowledge of the repertoire and a flair for programming and execution
which leaves the audience spellbound. In particular, his concert improvisations
are truly remarkable. His ability to take a simple tune and subject it to any number
of stylistic variations is dazzling. Joe's performances are noted for their sensitive
musicality and are always entertaining.
|
Associate Professor of Music, Boston University
|
Andrew Shenton, PhD
|
|
[Utterback's] improvisations are a tour de force. His interpretations are rich and
sensuous but also playful and naughty. His technique is absolutely faultless. There
is no fat on those fingers as they light into Art Tatum-like runs that are alternately
molten and crystalline. Utterback has some chops and the soul to make them count.
|
The Advocate and Greenwich Time
|
Linda O'Connell
|
|
Joe has visited our church on two different occasions, thrilling the congregation
with his creative jazz renditions in worship and in a concert following. After his
first appearance, the congregation was on their feet with a standing ovation and
the following year he was invited back by popular demand. Our Chancel Choir enjoyed
singing several of his anthems, which he conducted, and those in attendance were
mesmerized by his technical ability, his creative arrangements, and his relaxed
presentation at the concert.
|
The New England Congregational Church (UCC), Aurora, Illinois
|
Rev. Gary L.McCann, Senior Minister
|
|