frithjofbrauer

Dear Jef,

this is an incredibly professional album. Wonderful tunes that stick to your head. A breathtaking soft voice which goes very nicely hand in hand with the piano playing. Emotional and strong, intoxicating and raging. And so sweet in so many places.

I'm hoping for a second album!
A thousand thanks for sharing this album with us.

Frithjof Brauer

Goddamn spring' says the poet in Thomas Mann's 'Tonio Kröger' and he has
his reasons: No poet, - and more general - no artist can work under these
circumstances where everything is about love and feelings. Being a pianist
requires intellect, technique and a heart said Horowitz. Without intellect
you are a fiasco, without technique - an amateur, and without heart, you are a
maschine. It's a dangereous profession. On the other hand, I find it very
amusing reading all the quite emotional comments on that CD and I ask myself
how many people have actually sat down for an hour and listened to this album using a bit more than their heart and a vague gut feeling.

Costlow has a good technique and I must say that his play is extraordinary precise for somebody not having studied piano at a university. Moreover, as far as I can hear, his heart outplays this technique by far. His improvisations are powerful, impulsive and their immanent pulsation reminds me of Vivaldi's works. However, the difference between Vivaldi and e.g. Bach also mirrors the difference between a Costlow and a Keith Jarrett: Where are the higher structures? Where is the evolution of presented themes? Chords may be entertaining for a minute, but should they be the entire substance for an 8 minute artwork- especially if the improvisation sticks to one key only? Where are the ideas, which change and grow in time, showing us something new that wasnt there before? Where is the surprise which makes us wonder and which makes us smile? C'mon, Rob, this CD tells you can do more! Show us!