The Bottom Line
Pianist Arthur Hanlon gets together with friends for an album of mixed instrumental/vocal Latin pop. The result is engaging and unusual with a mix of ballads, rock and sheer piano virtuosity on songs that were written by Hanlon and some of his guests.
Pros
- "Tempestad" highlights what a virtoso we have in Hanlon
- Opportunity to hear Sergio Vallin and Juanes on the guitar without vocals
Cons
- Appreciating instrumental and piano music a must
Description
- 10 tracks of Latin pop featuring Arthur Hanlon on Piano
- Guest artist include Juanes, Luis Fonsi, Ricardo Montaner
- Also with Mana's Sergio Vallin, Laura Pausini, Myriam Hernandez, Alexandre Pires
- Released March 2009 by Universal Music Latino
Guide Review - Review: Arthur Hanlon - 'Piano Sin Fronteras'
How does an Irish American boy from Detroit become such a big name in Latin music?
The story of Arthur Hanlon is not so surprising to any non-Latino who loves Latin music. Hanlon moved to New York to attend the Manhattan School of Music in classical piano. But there’s no way to live in Manhattan without being surrounded by Latin music and, somewhere along the way, he fell in love with it. He discovered a duel personality: classical pianist by day, Latin pianist at night.
Hanlon's had a lot of success along the way, but his new album, Piano Sin Fronteras, demonstrates just how valued he has become. The album is a collaboration between Hanlon and some of his friends: guest artists are Puerto Rico’s Luis Fonsi, Venezuelan icon Ricardo Montaner, Colombian superstar Juanes, Mana lead guitarist Sergio Vallin, Chilean diva Myriam Hernandez, Brazil’s Alexandre Pires and pop star Laura Pausini. Now that’s what I call friends!
Piano Sin Fronteras is a mix of instrumental and vocal tracks. While there are a number of songs that spotlight Hanlon’s tight, intuitive piano playing, the tracks that feature the guest artists are more like duets with give and take between Hanlon and featured guest.
They’re duets in more ways than one; while Hanlon co-wrote most of the tracks, “Te Quiero Llevar” features Luis Fonsi on vocals and was also co-written by Fonsi. Sergio Vallin co-wrote his track as did Pires, and Montaner. In fact, listening to the Hanlon/Montaner duet “Ya Te Olvide,” Hanlon’s piano plays like the soundtrack to Montaner’s plaintive story in lyrics
This is a rich, varied, surprising album with some real gems among the 10 tracks.
