Music in the Moment is pianist/composer Louis Landon's 45th album, an accomplishment not many artists can beat! Never one to repeat himself, Louis' new album is a collection of eighteen improvised duets with drummer T. Xiques. As if improvising duets wasn't enough of a challenge, the two musicians recorded from two different rooms in the studio and didn't have any eye contact at all. In a recent interview we did for MainlyPiano.com, I asked Louis about the process for recording this album:

"That music was totally improvised in the studio with my drummer friend, T. Xiques. What transpired was totally magical.... There was no visual cueing. We could hear each other, but not see each other. We had nothing planned. Zero. We didn't even talk about it. I would start playing and he would jump in, or he would start a groove and I would play off of that."

When you think about it, it's pretty amazing that the music came together at all, let alone so well! It is also interesting to note that the whole album was recorded in about two hours!

One of the things I've always appreciated about Louis' music is that it doesn't usually fit into any specific genre or category of music. Sometimes jazz, sometimes classical, sometimes pop, blues or new age, virtually anything goes. (Well, maybe not rap or hip hop, but I really wouldn't be surprised if he tried that, too!) Since Music in the Moment is completely improvised, it would most likely be considered jazz, but there is a lot of variety in the music from soulful instrumental ballads to uptempo musical bursts of joy - a musical portrait of two outstanding and very creative musicians!

Music in the Moment begins with "Aboriginal Fire Dance," a colorful piece that starts with a piano solo before the drums come in and ignite the music. "Reaching Out" opens with a drum solo that sets a groove for the piano to join in and dance around. "Deep Thinking" is a compelling piano solo. Very free and "in the moment," it's a favorite. "Forward Motion" cranks up the intensity substantially, and it's easy to hear the artists feeding off each other's energy as the piece progresses - my favorite track on the album! "Foxy" has a slow, slinky groove perfect for a slow dance. At almost nine minutes, "Forever Changing" explores a "theme and variations" format around a motif that is "forever changing." Fascinating! "The Time Is Now" begins as a soulful ballad that very gradually builds in rhythm and intensity, slows and softens, and then rebuilds before fading out at the end - another favorite. "Clear Skies" has an easy, carefree groove that just makes you feel good! "Uncertainty" has a more introspective feeling - kind of a musical meditation with a driving beat! I really like this one, too! "So Many Stars" begins as an ambient piano solo that describes a vast open sky away from the city where the number of stars is astounding. Once the drums enter with a driving beat, the piece takes off in a fast-paced dance that swirls and twirls before calming at the very end. Love it! "Gospel To Heaven" goes in quite a different direction with an easy, soulful groove propelled by the drums and percussion. The album comes to a close with "Stories," a beautifully reflective ballad with several themes that are woven together to create a seamless bit of musical story-telling - a great closing for a great album!

Louis Landon tells me that he and T. Xiques are planning to do a second album in the near-future - something to look forward to! Music in the Moment is available digitally from Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes as well as many streaming platforms. CDs are also available from Louis' website - autographed or not. Very highly recommended! (More links will be added as they become available.)