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Luke Celenza

Pianist and composer Luke Celenza speaks about the music on his independently released debut album, Back & Forth, with a clarity and equanimity that defies his young age. He only recently turned 21-years-old, and it has already been almost ten years since he was accepted into the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) Pre-College Jazz Division. Additionally, GRAMMY® and two-time Latin GRAMMY® winner Dominican pianist and composer, Michel Camilo was a friend of the family and a key influence in his development.

Such credentials might spark a young musician to intently compose complex music. However on Back & Forth, the 12 original compositions, including two three-song suite-like pieces, often sound deceptively simple — and for a good reason.

"When I write a song," Celenza explains, "I'm thinking about a groove, what sounds good and feels good — and I'm thinking about the form. I'm thinking about pop songs. I'm trying to be lyrical and melodic. And most of it is in 4/4 [time] whether that's "River Rhodes" which has more of a backbeat thing or "For Charles" (Charles Flores, bassist), which is straight ahead. The songs on the record are not trying to be math equations," he says. "There is nothing in 9/8 or 7/16. I'm not trying to make the listener crazy or make it so you have to be a musician to enjoy it."

The original concept of the title piece is a rhythmic dialogue between groove and swing. "It's a verse-chorus-verse-chorus form, taking pop music and taking swing and putting them together. And at the end, we have a release after a constant back and forth conversation." "Jupiter and Mars" is a sly, and personal, commentary on the "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" notion and plays with the idea of being both in a major and a minor key. "The idea is to be both at the same time, rather than choosing one or the other."

Regardless of the conceptual notions or musical structures binding the music, Celenza's interest is to connect his band with his audience. In turn, much of the music was written with the idea of having Joshua Crumbly on bass, Jimmy Macbride on drums and Lucas Pino on saxophones. "I've been friends with Jimmy and Josh since the Brubeck Colony in 2008," recalls Celenza. "It was so clear even then that Jimmy was the drummer I wanted to play with, we have such a great musical connection that when I write a song, I write it with him in mind; or for example on '131' Josh and I built on a bass line without ever saying or writing anything. He knew. He recognized what the music called for, played it and I joined in without saying anything."

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Pianist/Composer Luke Celenza to Release Debut Album, Back and Forth, Featuring 12 Original Compositions Bridging the Gap Between Jazz and Pop

Pianist/Composer Luke Celenza to Release Debut Album, Back and Forth, Featuring 12 Original Compositions Bridging the Gap Between Jazz and Pop

Source: DL Media

“I hear in Luke Celenza a young gifted jazz musician who has the right inquisitive attitude and true potential to become one of the key players in the scene. He brings to the table a fresh sound and an uncommon restrained maturity in his music which I am sure will keep on delighting us for many years to come." —Michel Camilo Pianist and composer Luke Celenza speaks about the music on his independently released debut album, Back & Forth, with ...

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