Peter Kater – LOVE: I first reviewed Peter’s wonderful contemporary piano/keyboard works in issue # 129, on a release called “Light Body”, and it was evident that his extensive travels and well-honed talent (he started out learning classical piano at the age of seven) gave him an ability to express emotions through his playing that few other artists can lay claim to… words like “inspirational” and “healing” came to mind immediately as I wrote that review. He also got very high marks for his work on an album in 2014 called “Ritual” in issue # 145.
On “Love“, he explores an even wider range of feelings associated with that most powerful emotion. Over my many years of reviewing music, I can honestly say that I haven’t heard a solo pianist capable of drawing the listener into their tale as deeply as Peter can. That is made clear (most poignantly) on tunes like the beautiful “Union“, a wonderful improvised piece that touches the heart intimately and brings understanding of how powerful two spirits merging can be. What makes Peter’s playing so unique is the pacing of each of the pieces… you’ll hear the power he’s able to project on the 6:08 “Turbulence” and know as you listen that this song comes from experience… the power of moving on from situations that have become too difficult to continue.
Peter’s early days (after growing up in New Jersey) were spent hiking ’round the U.S.A. with a backpack, his music books and his talent to help sustain him. 30,000 miles later, he wound up in Boulder, Colorado, where he incorporated many of the musical lessons he had learned into his playing… his unique and powerful style allowed him to do small concerts throughout Colorado & ultimately, with the help of folks like Robert Redford, John Denver and many others in the entertainment world, he was a recognized name on the world stage.
I can tell you as I listen to his beautiful composition on “Two Of Us“, that very few keyboardists in the world today can convey such a sense of intimacy as Peter did on this fine two-chord song (the only one he’s ever written with only two chords). I don’t think any listener will be able to walk away from Peter’s improvisation on “Intimacy” without remembering a person who they were able to share their deepest secrets with, and cherishing that memory. Peter’s keyboard work is simple, yet stunning, and for folks who want musical inspiration to keep their love burning bright, these thirteen wonderful tunes will do just that.
Oftentimes, solo piano is just classified as “New Age”, kind of lumped into that category, anyway. That’s another thing that makes Peter’s work so noticeable and pleasant to listen to… it goes far beyond that label, and takes the listener into sonic realms that approach the music on a much more personal level… and he’s got the “life” and “road” experience to back it up! A perfect combination for a perfect album! You can get a wealth of information on this high-energy (and high-talent) player at Peter’s website. I give him a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of (a perfect) 5.00… meaning he also gets the “PICK” of 2015 for “best contemporary instrumental album”.
