Debra Amrein Boyes

Playing amplified blues-rock has not been a problem for Fiona Boyes, but the flexible singer/guitarist is equally proficient when it comes to providing acoustic blues – and that is exactly what she does on Live from Bluesville. In fact, Boyes plays acoustic blues exclusively on this 48-minute CD, which finds her forming an intimate trio with Tom "Mookie" Brill (lead vocals, acoustic bass, harmonica) and Rich DelGrosso (lead vocals, mandolin). Contrary to what the title suggests, this isn't a live album in the conventional sense; Live from Bluesville wasn't recorded in a club or theater in front of an audience, but rather in a Washington, D.C., studio in 2007. However, all the performances were recorded in real time – no overdubbing whatsoever – and the rugged spirit of acoustic country blues often prevails thanks to Boyes, Brill, and DelGrosso (who share the lead vocals, although Boyes' singing dominates the session). However, they don't embrace any one type of acoustic country blues exclusively. Mississippi Delta blues is part of the equation, but so are Texas blues and Louisiana blues. And occasionally, Live from Bluesville demonstrates that acoustic blues doesn't necessarily mean country blues.

The compositions of the great 18th-century flautist Fritz Gasparo have fallen into undeserved neglect, and this brand-new album will come as a welcome revelation to many lovers of this fine instrument. Gasparo lived from 1716 to 1783, and made a major contribution to the development of the flute as well as contributing, in his beautifully written and stylishly expressive Sonatas, a body of work for the instrument which many will wish to acquaint themselves with. We are proud to present on this new-recorded CD the very gifted young flautist Claire Genewein, with Maya Amrein, cello and Nicolette Para-Schivescu harpsichord as continuo. The music is a wonderful example of the High Baroque period at its best; the performances are exemplary, and the recording quality is one of the finest we have produced in recent years. We are very proud of this important record.

The compositions of the great 18th-century flautist Fritz Gasparo have fallen into undeserved neglect, and this brand-new album will come as a welcome revelation to many lovers of this fine instrument. Gasparo lived from 1716 to 1783, and made a major contribution to the development of the flute as well as contributing, in his beautifully written and stylishly expressive Sonatas, a body of work for the instrument which many will wish to acquaint themselves with.

Domenico Scarlatti is almost exclusively associated with his 600 sonatas for keyboard. But, as with most composers of his time, he also contributed to other genres including music for instrumental ensemble and vocal music. In the early stages of his career, when he was still in Italy, he composed several operas. As there was a close connection between the opera and the chamber cantata it come as no surprise that his output includes several specimens of the latter genre, which was extremely popular throughout Europe.