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CMU Approved
Approved: Chilly Gonzales – Pianist Envy Mixtape
By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 22 February 2010
Although an MC and musician in his own right, Chilly Gonzales, aka Jason Beck, is probably best known for his collaborations with the likes of Feist, Jamie Lidell and Buck 65. Although his career has spanned many genres, it all stems from the piano, an instrument on which he is classically trained and also the holder of the record for the longest ever solo performance (27 hours, three minutes and 44 seconds).
Last week, apparently to celebrate officially changing his name to Chilly Gonzales, he released a free mixtape, entitled ‘Pianist Envy’, which sees him apply his piano skills to a variety of hip hop and R&B tracks 28 minutes. The man himself says: “[This is] my declaration of defiance to the rappers and beatmakers who, unbeknownst to them, leave space for my musical imagination. You know those rap beats and electro songs – the ones with almost nothing in them? Well, I go all Liberace on these beats with my piano and my orchestra. Claude Von Stroke, 50 Cent, Kelly Clarkson, Rocky Balboa and Gonzo himself all make cameos”.
www.chillygonzales.com/mixtape/
