The Heart of Frida is the much anticipated follow up to Starr’s debut solo piano album, Common Places.  Honored as Solo Piano Album of the Year in 2008 (solopianoradio.com), Common Places, was lauded by KCRW’s grammy nominated host Chris Douridas. “This deeply passionate and beautiful recording (Common Places) is one of the best albums of the year.”  The Heart of Frida is quickly finding praise with reviewers such as New Age Music Review’s, Keith Hannaleck: "Solo piano music does not get much better than The Heart of Frida and I could not say it any more succinctly than that. This is clarity of vision and inspiration brought to your ears, heart and spirit through the fingers of Starr Parodi. Surely this recording will be receiving more accolades then I could possibly give it. If there is such a thing as musical perfection, then this is as close as it gets"

At the heart of Starr's creativity is the piano. When Starr closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and lays her hands on the keys of her 1928 Steinway B, she brings music into the realm of an existential prayer and transcendent journeys that are both soulfully surprising and emotionally charged. Starr breathes new life into the form of classical & new age motifs and transforms them into deeply evocative improvisations. As a Steinway Concert & Recording Artist, Starr has recorded or performed with a treasured array of artists that span both genre and time (including Carole King, Liz Story, Stevie Wonder, Phil Keaggy, Jimmy Cliff, Seal, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, Al Green, Mavis Staples, Carlos Santana, Patti LaBelle). All of whom have added to the deeply treasured experiences, and inspiration that Starr draws from every time she sits at the piano to compose, play or improvise. Starr is also currently performing in concert as a solo piano artist throughout North America and Europe.  "It gives me great joy to connect with a live audience and it is a constant adventure to draw upon the energy that exists in that situation, to improvise, experience and create something new for each concert".

Los Angeles has always been Starr's home and it’s rich multi-cultural environment is also a source from which she draws upon to inspire her creations. As a trailblazing young woman, She became and continues to be a member of LA's vibrant film and television scoring scene, having hundreds of episodes of TV, films, film trailers and live orchestral works to her credit. As a teen, Starr’s natural musical gifts became apparent and she was invited to study music at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan.  Beyond her formal classical training, Parodi is heavily influenced by the cinematic themes she that fell in love with by masters such as Ennio Morricone and Jerry Goldsmith, as well as the unique mix of orchestral textures and jazz in Miles Davis and Gil Evans extraordinary “Sketches of Spain”. Starr found these influences key to helping her discover new approaches to her connection with pop and soul music as well. After Interlochen, Starr soon found herself playing piano and keyboards in various gospel and soul bands, teaming up with members of Earth Wind & Fire, The Temptations, and Parliament Funkadelic. It was Starr’s edgy funk laced work that caught the attention of comedian Arsenio Hall who invited her to play keyboards on his groundbreaking late night hit, The Arsenio Hall Show, in the show’s dynamic house band “The Posse”. This garnered the young musician national recognition and led to her performance at the Kennedy Center for the Inauguration of President Clinton, as well as being a featured artist along with keyboard legends Bruce Hornsby, George Duke & Joe Zawinul at Keyboard Magazine’s 20th anniversary concert (celebrating 20 top contemporary keyboardists).

"If you listen closely, you can hear the ghosts in her music." - RJ Lannan, Zone Music Reporter

 

For more information about Starr and her scoring work please visit parodifair.com