Grand Pianoramax is an experimental keyboard/drums project conceived by keyboardist Leo Tardin. The line up consists of Tardin and Dominik Burkhalter featuring various guests, often including Mike Ladd and Black Cracker.
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The 2005 self-titled debut release features Tardin with drummer Jojo Mayer (and two tracks with Ferenc Nemeth on drums). Grand Pianoramax's second release The Biggest Piano In Town employs the likes of drummers Deantoni Parks and Adam Deitch and expanded personnel to include guest vocals, raps and spoken word from Mike Ladd, Black Cracker, Invincible, and Spleen. [1] [2]
At the same time as the album The Biggest Piano In Town was commercially released in the USA and Canada, Grand Pianoramax went on a 10-city tour in the US opening for Maceo Parker and then moved on to perform at several major festivals in Europe (most notably at a showcase night featuring the Andy Milne & Gregoire Maret duo, and Grand Pianoramax with Spleen & Bleubird at the 2008 Montreux Jazz Festival). Zurich-based Dominik Burkhalter had become the official drummer for the band. [3] [4]
Grand Pianoramax’s third album, Smooth Danger, was recorded and mixed between Mumbai, Berlin, Paris and Bristol (and mastered by Shawn Joseph, collaborator of Portishead).[5] It was released in Europe and the USA in October 2010, to be supported by a European release-tour in November-December. Various guests appeared on the album, including Grand Pianoramax long-time collaborators Mike Ladd, Black Cracker and for the first time Karsh Kale on tabla.[6]
Leo Tardin, a native of Geneva, Switzerland, won the first Montreux Jazz Festival International Solo Piano Competition in 1999. He graduated from New School University in 2000 and spent 10 years in New York; he relocated to Berlin in 2009 for the production of his third album. He has performed with musicians like Roy Ayers, Frank Morgan, Toots Thielemans, Charles Tolliver, Dave Liebman, Enrico Rava, Maria João, Erik Truffaz, Gregoire Maret and Paula Oliveira.