Composer/contemporary pianist Richard Carr, native of St. Louis, Missouri, has returned to St. Louis after the ravaging of the hurricane Katrina of his home in New Orleans.

Carr's approach to creating is one of tapping into the free-flowing consciousness of music, Richard is freely improvising on the spot. There are no sequencing or tracking techniques used during the recording. Everything is recorded in real time without any edits.

In this regard, Richard's music has been favorably compared to Keith Jarrett, George Winston and David Lanz. His concerts are highlighted by his apparent ease at the piano or keyboard and his passionate playing. Most of his audiences are also treated with a new composition or improvisation created on the spot.

Carr's improvisational composition style is full of melodic lines and rich harmonies indicative of the classical influences of the American, Russian and French composers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Additionally, more modern influences as diverse as Mannheim Steamroller, Tangerine Dream, John Adams, Keith Jarrett, Cole Porter, Thomas "Fats" Waller, Steve Reich, George Winston, and George Gershwin are also evident.


The Artist's Notes on "When Soul & Heart Collide"

When Soul & Heart Collide is one of the most accurate descriptions of my creative process. Very often in the studio sessions, the mind is not involved in any way. The soul and heart take over control of my hands, allowing the passions and feelings shine through, sometimes very intensely.

Once again, none of the tracks have been tampered with. The performance on these tracks has not been altered to maintain the integrity of the moment caught on tape during the recording sessions. Again, many of the tracks are first time improvisations.

After all the hours in the studio and the sometimes agonizing decisions of what to keep and what to leave out, I am quite happy to present to you, When Soul & Heart Collide.

Jack Milak passed away in Nov, 1999. He was a friend, teacher, mentor, motivator and an inspiration to any who came in contact with him. He had touched many young musicians' lives by fostering their love and thirst for music. This is the legacy he left behind. This project is dedicated to Jack Milak by one of the many who has been fortunate to have been his student and friend.