Piano

Peter Gabriel, Elton John and Sting’s new CDs: review

Peter Gabriel, Elton John and Sting’s new CDs: review Sting and Elton at least strive to be relevant with The Last Ship and The Diving Board, which can’t be said for Gabriel’s And I’ll Scratch Yours Elton John The Diving Board is largely focused on his still strong voice and his piano, says reviewer Nick Krewen. By: Nick Krewen Music, Published on Tue Sep 24 2013     There was…


Sara Bareilles’ songs don’t live up to her voice: CD review

Sara Bareilles seems to be spinning her wheels on her fourth album, The Blessed Unrest. By: Nick Krewen Music, Published on Tue Jul 16 2013 The Blessed Unrest Sara Bareilles 2.5 stars Overwrought and overproduced at times, Sara Bareilles seems to be spinning her wheels on her fourth album, The Blessed Unrest. Although the Eureka, Calif., singer-songwriter’s rich, fluid alto is the connecting thread between the dozen songs on her…


Taylor Swift Red Tour: Flawless execution at the Rogers Centre

From the very moment the curtain rose revealing the lean-and-leggy fedora-capped blond, Swift was a master of precision. Pennsylvania native, Taylor Swift, is no wilting lily when it comes to the art of performance. By: Nick Krewen Music, Published on Sat Jun 15 2013   Taylor Swift is a woman who knows what she wants. If there was anything made abundantly clear during the 22-year-old country music crossover sensation’s hour-and-45-minute…


Chilly Gonzales deserves a warm reception at Toronto show

He’s better known as a collaborator with Feist, Drake, Peaches and Tiga, but Chilly Gonzales is an accomplished performer in his own right. Chilly Gonzales’s background is classical but he considers himself pop. “I want to be a man of my time,” he says. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Nov 07 2012 Chilly Gonzales is so prolific, it’s a surprise he’s not more of a…


Iris DeMent wants songs to be worth the wait

By NICK KREWEN Special to the Star Fri., Oct. 19, 2012 The last time Grammy-nominated, Americana music siren Iris DeMent released an album of original songs, Lisa Marie Presley had divorced Michael Jackson; Diana, Princess of Wales was still among the living and social media was restricted to email. Not that it matters to the DeMent faithful who will pack Hugh’s Room to the rafters this weekend for a pair of…