Andrew Roussak is a Russian born (Ufa) pianist who has moved to Germany, the place where he found success, and 2 years ago he was honored by a German official award "Pop & Rock Award 2006" as the best keyboard player and the best solo artist.
Andrew considers Bach , Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman as the big masters. He showed his respect for them on the album "No Trespassing" on which he gathered songs recorded through the years in different studios and countries like Germany, Russia and France.
He put on this CD two own interpretations of Bach’s works: Preludium no. 2 in C minor from "Das Wohltemperierte Klavier" and this famous chorale from cantata no. 147 „Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" („Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring"). These two very skillfully adapted to the contemporary requirements and played by Roussak in a thrilling way on synthesizers versions of classical pieces are corresponding on "No trespassing" with own compositions of our hero. You can divide them into two groups. First ones are instrumental pieces. And it is here where you can see that Roussak appreciates and respects the achievements of Emerson and Wakeman. When listening to „Vivace Furioso", „All Good Things" and „Wartime Chronicles" one can almost hear that these could be unknown recordings of ELP trio or solo repertoire of Rick Wakeman. Second group of Roussak’s own compositions are songs. They are sung (unfortunately not always in a good way) by Hendrik Plachtzik, and you can also hear other instrumentalists accompanying Roussak: Steffen Hehrer, Olivier Weislogel, Alan Graham, Jurgen Wannenwetsch, Sebastian Sauberlich. Among those compositions we find pieces that can be put into "pop-rock" category (No Trespassing", „Lost In The Woods" or Rhythm of The Universe"), almost musical-like pieces („Maybe"), and even recording with cabaret-vodevil character („Do Without Me").
It is quite an eclectic album but - as I have mentioned earlier - it is supposed to sum up and put together different material, that Andrew’s been working on for last few years. We should assume that his future CDs will be oriented more "one-way" which helps gaining more integrity and stilistic homogeneity. Nevertheless, while listening to "No trespassing" music you can find out three different things. First, Andrew is wonderfully skilled pianist gifted with a divine spark. Second, he is a talented composer. And third, skilled interpretator of the old music who can accomodate it to modernity with help of batteries of his magically played synthesizers.
