Are there exceptions these days with piano-driven instrumental albums? Frankly, that can be quite a rare occasion, because most of such albums would fall under the modern classical or new age category, with the artists trying to do something else in most cases, drifting into something quite experimental.
And that is where L.A.-based keyboardist/producer Ben Alleman comes in. His latest (second) solo album, Underneath The Orange Tree, does at some points touch the more experimental sides, like on ‘100 Cuts’, but not the atonal, improvisational side of things, focusing on both melody and rhythm throughout, as is the focus of the eight other songs here.
There is always rhyme and reason there somewhere, as some artists might say – and quite a bit of it just might be connected to Alleman’s career beginnings when he was touring with Dr John, Social Distortion, Grace Potter, Jenny Lewis and others. It could all be practically heard here, as there are quite a few jazz and pop moves in Alleman’s music, as he never tries to leave the confines of a ‘real’ song, but give them those touches that are personal and general at the same time, supported most of the time by a standard band or some taste electronic/ beat embellishments added, something where Alleman’s production experience comes in quite handy.
It is quite interesting that something so easy on the ears turns out to be something of an exception among piano-driven albums.
