"MY FAVORITE THINGS," by Josh Wright, Shadow Mountain Records, $16.98
Utah pianist Josh Wright’s latest CD showcases his piano talent in songs by classical artists Mozart and Rachmaninoff to tunes from “Les Miserables,” “The Sound of Music” and the Harry Potter series.
Just from listening to “My Favorite Things,” it seems that there are more than two hands playing the piano. They are light and seem effortless, but also demand to be the center of attention with the intricate arrangements.
Every other track on “My Favorite Things” is a piece from a movie alternating with a song from a classical artist.
“My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music” is followed by Chopin’s Étude in C-Sharp minor, Op. 10, No. 4, then “Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz” followed by Scarlatti’s Sonata in D Minor, K. 141.
He performs a medley of Led Zeppelin's “Stairway to Heaven” and “Castle on a Cloud” from “Les Miserables.” That and “Hedwig’s Theme” from the Harry Potter series are mixed among Ravel’s “Jeaux d’eau” and Mozart’s Sonata in F Major, K. 332, 2nd movement, and “Theme from Schindler’s List” with Rachmaninoff's Elégie, Op. 3, No. 1.
His wife, Lindsey, joins him for his arrangement of Owl City’s “Fireflies.”
The last four tracks are Wright performing with an orchestra.
Josh Wright's self-titled CD, his first, topped Billboard’s Classical Traditional chart just three weeks after its April 2011 release.
Wright studied at the University of Utah and is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Michigan. He has performed and competed across the U.S. and Europe and won various awards.
On his YouTube channel at youtube.com/joshwrightpiano, he shares online piano instructional videos for students of various backgrounds.
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