DESCRIPTION:
"Cry Me A River" by Arthur Hamilton
Arranged & Played by Pianist, Christopher-Joel Carter, IV

Christopher-Joel Carter, IV; words worthy of guilding lilies even shy away in describing this super-genius wonder child of multi-genre virtuoso piano playing. A supreme master at on-the-spot improvisation of any genre only describes a small but powerful facet of his prowess. A connoisseur of music of many styles, Christopher has studied in depth most every genre of music, and at a split-second's notice, he can incorporate and decorate any tune in any given style. Hailed as the next Liberace, Carter far surpasses re-hashing and mimicking his idol, Liberace. Christopher-Joel takes the ideas, techniques and glamour of Liberace, updates it, "dresses it up" even more, and reaches a most varied, and eclectic universal audience. With this being said, Christopher is the reigning champion of the Liberace Piano Competition. Christopher-Joel has most recently performed at Carnegie Hall, in New York, and was praised for his passionate, and romantic tone. He has also shared the billboard in Las Vegas with Natalie Cole, ABC, Wang Chung, Cutting Crew, Alan Jackson, and numerous more celebrities. A favorite friend, and entertainer to celebrities and audiences alike, Christopher never ceases to enlighten, cheer, and delight his listeners. Carter's playing of the piano is of the highest caliber of creativity, style, and panache and is a wonder and miracle to behold. Aside from solo piano work, Christopher-Joel is a most accomplished organist, composer, arranger, and accompanist. He is sought after for his collaborative skills so often that he travels, performing more than 250 days per year. His concerts bring joy and special moments for every person in the audience, from age eight to eighty, older and younger. Christopher has performed and was the master of ceremonies for the 91st birthday of Liberace where he was hailed and glorified for personifying a new style of Liberace, and for helping promote Liberace to vast and varied audiences. No pianist has ever come near recreating the magic of Liberace; yes, many have copied, and mimicked Liberace and his tunes, but until Christopher-Joel, no one has had the style, and the technical gifts to speak musically to such varied audiences. Christopher-Joel grew up in the small, rural city of Albertville, Alabama where he studied with piano teachers of the area, and at the age of 14 began classical piano studies. Often chided by jazz "purists" of his collegiate training for his "over-the-top" piano playing, Christopher-Joel says now "...I cried all the way to the concert hall" in his jovial nod to Liberace. "Being told the piano style I was playing was wrong, by jazz coaches, was the fire I needed to be the best improvisational and most musically universal musician I can be." One such masterful feat in Christopher's playing is his extremely virtuosic stride piano playing, a style which by no means is for the faint of heart. In stride piano, the left hand plays large chords in expansive and quick motions creating the accompaniment to as what he refers to as a "languid gospel tongued" right hand. Envied by many, respected by many, loved by all, Christopher-Joel Carter is the pianist for everyone, and we will all look forward to the magic he creates for many, many years to come.