R. ANDREW LEE
pianist
Press for Dennis Johnson: November
Time Out NY review by Steve Smith
“Enter pianist R. Andrew Lee, whose impressive string of albums... has included major pieces by outliers like Tom Johnson, Ann Southam and William Duckworth. Lee’s new recording of November, a five-hour span of superhuman patience and stamina, rescues Johnson from oblivion, and offers a sea of tranquility far removed from the everyday grind.
Sequenza21 Review by Jay Batzner
“November comes alive under the fingers and musical abilities of R. Andrew Lee... Given such few musical materials and so much time, there are rather few pianists who I think could pull this off. Some could work with these materials for 30 minutes, maybe an hour, but the ability to bring forth five hours of music in such a compelling-yet-accessible way is nothing short of a miracle.”
Press for Jürg Frey: Piano Music
The Watchful Ear Review by Richard Pinnell
“What Chopin said in streams of complexity, what Schubert told through richly patterned melody, so Frey retells with simple brushstrokes, which are reproduced here by Lee without fuss, but with immense skill. Stunning work then, and a new pianist to keep a close eye upon.”
The Wire Magazine Review by Philip Clark
“Pianist R. Andrew Lee colours repetitions with an expert [variance] of touch and tone.”
Best of 2012 by Christian Carey
“Lee presents a committed performance in which Frey’s penchant for pianissimo passages, as well as his idiosyncratic use of repetitions and silences, are savored.”
Just Outside Review by Brian Olewnick
“Lee, to his great credit in music like this, virtually disappears. There's certainly wonderful thought, consideration and decision making at play here, but the music seems to exist apart form a performer, a fine thing.”
Press for The Time Curve Preludes
Gramophone Magazine Critic’s Choice for 2012
“Andrew Lee's recent recording is a fitting tribute to one of the unsung composer heroes of the 20th century.”
Clavier Companion Review by Sang Woo Kang
“a captivating and thoughtful look at one of the more appealing examples of post-minimalism.”
American Record Guide Review by Ira Byelick
“Lee is right at home performing this music, and he brings to it a clarity and space that suits it admirably.”
AllMusic review by Stephen Eddins
“R. Andrew Lee plays them with sensitivity and obvious affection... Highly recommended for any fans of new music for piano.”
“the extremely capable hands of R. Andrew Lee, whose work, frankly, I find to be as interesting as David Tudor's coverage of John Cage”
Press for Soundings for a New Piano
File Under? Review by Christian Carey
“Lee is a sensitive interpreter who recognizes the detailed and delicate character of Soundings.”
American Record Guide Review by Ira Byelick
“Lee’s performance is engaged and exemplary. He caresses the music and communicates perfectly its quiet mystery.”
The WholeNote Review by Tamara Bernstein
“Lee captures the spirit of curiosity that propels Soundings, and vividly conveys the distinctive, richly nuanced characters found in these 13 compact movements”
La Scena Musicale Review by Éric Champagne
“Magnificent music! ... performed with precision and sensitivity.”
Sequenza21 Review by Jay Batzner
“This EP release... is another excellent vehicle for R. Andrew Lee to showcase a subtle virtuosity and sensitive musical touch.”
Press for An Hour for Piano
“Lee’s version joins Rzewski’s recording as deserving to be preserved and made accessible to as many library patrons interested in hearing minimalism as possible.”
Fanfare Magazine Review by Robert Carl
“R. Andrew Lee plays beautifully. Of course one needs control, elegance of touch, and enormous stamina to project the “infinite pacing” of the piece. But to these I’ll add his ability to clarify the various repeating layers of the different textures, not so different from delineating Bach’s counterpoint. Above all, I salute this uncovering and return to the repertoire of a gem of early American Minimalism.”
KCMetropolis.org Review - A Different Virtuosity
“Mental stamina is required of all performers every given day, but in hearing R. Andrew Lee’s intimate performance of Tom Johnson’s An Hour for Piano... I had never been so confronted by the staggering necessity of mental fortitude.”
Sequeanza21 Review by David Toub
“it’s in every way at least an equal of the Rzewski performance...And that’s meant as a compliment-both performers skillfully captured the beauty in Johnson’s piece, and I’m not sure either recording could be outdone.”
Just Outside Review by Brian Olewnick
“This rendition by R. Andrew Lee...approaches the work a shade or two more gently than Rzewski (not surprising, given the latter's forged steel attack), allowing the notes a fraction of a second to suspend in space, which in turn may allow the listener an extra glimpse into the underlying mechanics.”
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