Thanks for a thrilling performance, Gabriel.
There is no doubt that your mastery of piano and keyboard is imminent. While I can barely play piano, I do listen as I did when I was last in Sydney. That you have come so far, with such a large repertoire of both classical and South American masterworks, is not presented in what is a grouping of informal music.
May I commend you on the interesting variations of intonation that you are able to express. Your technique is enviable.
I am unfortunately not an expert in critique. What may help you as you press on to a rating of 102 out of 95, are some observations.
That the Kwai is good is undoubted, and even with the Beale that you played upstairs in Allans, before Allans closed, the Pitt Street store, compared against the longer Yamaha Grand that you also played, in any of these, the higher octaves can sound a bit thin against the richness of the lower and middle registers. There were moments in My Way, when I sensed the thinness of the upper octaves. I thought also that as you had to reach so far, you had in fact more time than you think, to add more tone and meaning. I thought that you were a bit rushed at that point of the performance. You have all the skill necessary. Just take a little more time, particularly on your first right hand move into the upper octaves, to let the jazz notes fall like a sprinkling of rain. They are short notes and to fit them into strict time with such a large move up the keyboard, seems for a moment to squeeze the time you think you have to execute several high notes. Elsewhere in the several performance pieces, you extract a richness also in the higher octave notes. Well done.
That the piece New York has syncopation and time changes is challenging. Your performed well. I do seem to think that you may benefit by understanding or viewing performances of tap dancers dancing to the piece. It is a difficult idiom, and not one I used to adore. So if we have experienced the dance moves, we may then relate better to the changes. Still very good playing.
I so much enjoyed your performances.
= areas covered (up to 15 miles)
