From piano and pop, to fairy tales: Canadian virtuoso Chilly Gonzales takes a new direction

Chilly Gonzales' career has been filled with a kind of restless exploration -- including albums of mesmerizing solo piano, and pop collaborations with the likes of Feist, Drake and Daft Punk. But now he's trying something new.

His latest composition is a chamber suite based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, "The Shadow." In the story, a mild mannered professor's shadow takes on a disturbing life of its own.

Chilly Gonzales tells As It Happens guest host Laura Lynch, "I came across the fairy tale a couple of years ago when I changed my name, Jason Beck, to to the persona, Chilly Gonzales. A couple of years later I remembered reading it and thinking oh, that won't happen to me."

The world premier of "The Shadow" took place last night in Hamburg, Germany. A night he calls "overwhelming."

Chilly Gonzales is known not only for his eclectic taste in music. He's also known for his wardrobe. Gonzales is famous for showing up on stage in a bathrobe and slippers. But for his new production, he's getting a little fancy. He is dressed by fashion designer, Herr von Eden.

Gonzales says, "I really recommend high pants for all the men out there."