Pablo Held - Embracing You (October 1, 2021)
Pablo Held’s self-released 13th album, 'Embracing You', which launches his label Hopalit Records, is unique in the 34-year-old pianist-composer’s corpus, following twelve dates with his internationally acclaimed trio. For the first time, Held – who “loves reacting to people, playing off their ideas and developing things together” – presents his lyric, penetrating, meditative vision of the solo space via interpretations of eight originals and three reimagined gems from the canons of Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, and John Taylor on piano, mellotron, synths and celesta. This no-safety-net dive into his consciousness constitutes a transparent reflection of Held’s aesthetic and emotional growth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
excerpt from the liner notes by Chris Weisman:
"Though this is the work of one person alone, it is an inclusive wonder of many voices. May Pablo grace us again, in the future, with another such outing. This is my jam."
1. Memorabilia
2. Ruby, My Dear
3. Song Noir
4. Chronic Romantic
5. Embracing You
6. Serenade
7. Face On The Barroom Floor
8. Bowl Song
9. Private Eye Blue
10. Adagio For Nobler Toners
11. Elsa's Idea
Pablo Held plays piano, celesta, mellotron & synthesizers
all compositions by Pablo Held, except "Ruby, My Dear" (Thelonious Monk), "Face On The Barroom Floor" (Wayne Shorter) & "Bowl Song" (John Taylor)
produced by Pablo Held
co-produced by Jason Seizer
radio producer Odilo Clausnitzer
project coordinator Till Kammertöns
mixed by Rob Griffin
mastered by Christoph Stickel
design by Till Kammertöns
photos by Nadine Heller Menzel
liner notes by Chris Weisman
Recording sessions:
June 22nd – 24th 2020 at DLF Kammermusiksaal, Köln
engineers: Oliver Bergner, Eva Pöpplein & Christoph Schumacher
October 24th & November 6th 2020 at Studio Lutz, Köln
engineer: Oliver Lutz
February 8th 2021 at Riverside Studios, Köln
engineer: Oliver Bergner
Hopalit Records
