The Canadian musician, who became famous primarily for his »Solo Piano« trilogy, has become one of the most sought-after artists of our time: after collaborating on albums with Boys Noize, Jarvis Cocker and Plastikman, as well as releasing the best-selling Christmas album and TV special »A Very Chilly Christmas«, Chilly Gonzales returns to his rap roots on his latest album »Gonzo«.
On »Gonzo«, the musician bridges the gap between provocative rap and classical music, combining the art of lyricism with that of the piano, for which Gonzales has become internationally renowned as a keyboard wizard, especially in recent years. Now Chilly Gonzales is drawn back to the microphone, even though »Gonzo« is far from being a pure rap album: instrumental pieces such as the Stravinsky-esque »Fidelio« or the tear-jerking »Eau de Cologne« remind the listener of Gonzo's extravagant »musical genius« personality, while the words and rhymes of the preceding verses stick in the ear – rhymes that come across as raw, unfiltered and direct, without him losing his sense of melody.
PERFORMERS
Chilly Gonzales piano