Andre 3000 Dropped a Surprise Solo Piano Album Tonight and I Think I Like it About as Much as New Blue Sun
Reckoning with Three Stack's Newest Instrumental Revelation
Andre 3000 has just dropped the prequel to his Grammy nominated New Blue Sun titled, 7 piano sketches. As I’ve just completed my first listen, I feel similarly about this new drop as I did his previous album: Andre 3000 does the best with what he has, and there is an admirable purity to his musicality, even if I only jibe with a minimum of its manifestation.
I find myself rooting for Andre, as there is some kinship in our paths to instrumentalism. As a young child I showed early enthusiasm toward instrumental music, which alerted my parents to the idea that I might be a good candidate for formal study. The piano teacher they would ultimately land was so opposite to my natural predilection and musical curiosity that the lessons nearly killed off my passion for music making. It was my own foray into Hip Hop culturally and as an art form that lit the fire and pointed the way to the center of the groove and placed emphasis on ear-over- eye as the ultimate guide. Hip Hop reawakened my desire to make music within its bounds and, ultimately, pushed me back towards the creative improvisational music of my origin. My fatigue in keeping up with the most current craftsmanship of emceeing guided me right back to picking up an instrument to learn on my own and under the tutelage of others in real time.
I’m unsure if Andre’s path was exactly the same. Obviously, for an established emcee of his stature, making personal instrumental discoveries available publicly as a fledgling player doesn’t guarantee the gravy train. Amazingly, his risk was rewarded last year with three Grammy nominations including “Album of the Year.” Just as importantly, he met with the adoration of his fans and supporters on the tour circuit. Perhaps the best outcome of all is he seems to be having fun making music again, and his interviews and liner notes for both albums mention artists that inspire him which are solid guides for fans who want to ingest more great sounds. On the latest album, Andre names Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Stephen Sondheim, Joni Mitchell, Philip Glass, and Vince Guaraldi. Check the slight Monk influence on the new album’s second track, “and then one day you’ll…”
Having heard this new album tonight, I think I resonate more with Andre’s piano playing than I do with his flute excursions. I have no problem admitting that I have preference for the former instrument, but I will admit that the 88-key instrument does appear to rein him in a tad to provide more focus. I do remember Andre saying in an interview last year that he took to the flute quickly and was less adept at the piano. In contrast to New Blue Sun, a few of the improvisations on the new recording have more of a composed nature to them. Be it a smidge of additional planning, the touch of post-production on each tune, or the overall brevity of the album at just over sixteen minutes, I do feel compelled to listen to 7 piano sketches again- and I think I will.