This project by American pianist and composer Uri Caine is noteworthy in at least three ways. First is the compositional concept, which is unique. Much of the program consists of familiar classical pieces in two-piano versions, with the pieces performed in their usual version by Jenny Lin while Caine creates an improvised accompaniment. Some of these, by Domenico Scarlatti, are keyboard pieces; the first movement of the Mozart Piano Sonata in C major, K. 545 is done differently, with the unadorned version played first, followed by Caine's improvisation. There are also keyboard versions of madrigals by Carlo Gesualdo; Caine provides an improvised accompaniment here as well. Second is the technology denoted by the title. The Spirio system is a new high-resolution reproduction technology being developed by Steinway, and neither the two-piano duets on the album nor even the final recordings were made in real time: the duets in which Caine improvises on the pieces played straight by Lin were recorded at different times, and even the album itself was assembled from Spirio playback. Lastly, there are original pieces by Caine for one or two pianos; the former are through-composed, while in the latter he improvises on his own music, played by Lin, in the same way he treats the Scarlatti sonatas. This is unusual in itself, and what's more, Caine mixes tonal and atonal idioms, treating them both as details rather than as foundations of a musical language more oriented toward rhythm and motivic work. The program does not entirely hang together -- it's not clear why the method should change with the Mozart sonata at the end, for example -- but this is a stimulating experiment. Decide for yourself whether the recording sounds like it captures the sounds of musicians in the studio! Recommended.
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