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My premiere solo piano free improvisation album, entitled "43" is a concert type recording in three parts, recorded on my 43rd birthday, 5/12/21.  Like Keith Jarrett’s famous albums, the Köln Concert or The Vienna Concert, it is a fluid collection of ideas and textures with no preconceived music. 

In the weeks leading up to this recording, I set out on a unique ascetic meditative journey to reconnect with my inner creativity. I ceased practicing or listening to music, almost like a musical fasting period so I could get in touch with my deepest sonic world.  The only artistic contact I had was with the audiobook versions of Coleman Barks’ The Essential Rumi, and Stephen Nachmanovitch’s two books, Free Play and Art of Is.  Much of the music on this album is conceptually influenced by these three books. There were a handful of ideas that were swirling around in my head, and most of them worked their way into the textures and melodies of my playing.

More extensive liner notes accompany the album but I wanted to share an overview of the journey here.  

Join my preorder for this album in the store section of the site. Preorders will also include

• Autographed CD's
• recognition in the CD booklet
• Private livestream performance of faborite album tracks

Part I of the recording begins with a piece where I “tune” the piano, or rather I tune myself to the piano and the way it sounds.  Mr. Nachmanovitch often talks about the way tuning his violin gets him in the right space, or "temenos" of creation.   In the next three pieces I attempt to musically create the mystical Sufi journey of digging deep within myself (“Working through Regret”), then attempting to destroy my personality in a kind of spinning dance (“Chaconne: Learning to Whirl”) and connect with a universal consciousness (“Spirit Takes Flight”). Each of these pieces is unlike any other I have ever performed. 

Part II begins with a conceptual piece based on an old Haiku called “Plop”, featured in The Art of Is.  The next piece is one of the standout tracks, “The Sunrise Ruby”.  In this piece I let go of all my planning and conceptualizing of thoughts and poetry into music ideas and just created a glorious ballad in my favorite key of Db Major.  The next piece, Tide Pools, is a nebulous exploration of ebbing and flowing. Then things get really dirty: in Mud Run I really let myself go and played dark and gritty sounds that continue to build and reach multiple climax points. 

Part III begins with some picking and muting of the piano strings and then a John Adams inspired piece with incessant movement, which I've named Cub Creek ⅓ Mile after my local morning walking track.  The next piece is a sonic exploration of the world pre-creation, Tohu Vavohu - "without form, void" (Genesis 1:2). The rest of Part III are all shorter pieces. Prayer for Keith Jarrett is a kind of ballad where I attempt to learn from my idol and resist my temptation to modulate to wild keys and instead play something more repeatable and recognizable.  In Steps to Masada I just wanted to create a journey of miniature pieces, attempting to invoke a Satie like quality of matured innocence.  

The final piece, The Night Ocean, is again based on a Rumi poem. It starts with a Gb Major 6 chord, which is similar to a chord from the final piece of my concert when I was 21, albeit a step down. Overall it evokes the watery sound of Debussy's Images Book I, "Reflets dans l'eau", one of my absolute favorite pieces.

There is a wide variety of styles and textures on this album. I hope you'll go on this journey with me. Please comment below about any of your favorite tracks.

43 Track List

Part I 

1. Tuning 5/12/21 (2 min)
2. Working through Regret (9 min)
3. Chaconne: Learning to Whirl (9 min)
4. Spirit Takes Flight (10 min)

Part II

5. Plop (6 min)
6. The Sunrise Ruby (5 min)
7. Tide Pools (4:30)
8. Mud Run (9 min)

Part III 

9. Cub creek ⅓ mile (11 min)
10. Tohu Vavohu (7 min)
11. Prayer for Keith Jarrett (4 min)
12. Stairs to Masada - 5 Miniatures
    1. First Steps in Wayang (1:30)
    2. The Path Ahead (3 min)
    3. Barren Hillside (1:30)
    4. Sohbet (4 min)
    5. Pause, Arrival (3 min)
13. Finale: The Night Ocean (4 min)