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It’s not often that a solo piano offering comes along that holds my
attention. But when the songs are mostly original, and the music is more
about the joy of playing than technique, it can be a fun and engaging
experience. So it is with Claire Ritter’s Soho Solo (Zoning
Recordings, 2015).
“Intergrity” opens the set. It’s a delightfully charming piece, one of 18 Ritter originals. It has a playful, walking through the neighborhood vibe. “Tar” delivers much of that same kind of vibe, though a bit more subtly. “The Brook & The Bird” is a softer, more placid piece. One can visualize a shallow, clear-running stream where a jay or mockingbird takes a drink. Ritter closes the set with her personal take on Harold Arlen’s “I’ve Got the World on a String.” Seven of Ritter’s 18 compositions were previously recorded. In all, Soho Solo has 20 tracks, meaning the songs are short and to the point. Ritter plays for the joy of playing and sharing her different moods, stories and artistry. Ritter is from Rocky Mount, North Carolina. A jazz master, composer, pianist and educator, she has earned multiple awards. She has studied at Duke University and taught at the New England Conservatory of Boston. Soho Solo is Ritter’s 12th recording as a leader, including one DVD. She has also appeared on several recordings by other artists
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