There are few artists who have a truly comprehensive grasp of music in all genres. Some, such as Wynton Marsalis or Björk seemingly know something (or a lot) about everything. Every once in a while, a critic will express an opinion that inspires one of these artists to flex their muscles and show just what they know. Such was the case for Billy Joel who released an album, Fantasies & Delusions, displaying his prowess in classical music composition. Joel was trained as a youngster in classical piano, something that can be heard in his creative piano parts and interesting harmonic choices, but previous to this CD he hadn’t promoted himself as a classical artist.
This is the final track on Fantasies & Delusions, called “Air, Op. 10, Dublinesque”. When compared to others on the album, this piece displays a bit more Billy Joel-ness, mostly due to the chord to chord changes and some melodic gestures. The entire project is worth multiple listens, as one can hear shades of Chopin, Schubert, Brahms and other greats in the ear of Joel. I doubt anyone will accuse Billy Joel of being a hackneyed, untalented pop star again.
