ON Steinway

The folks at Karisma Records have surprised everyone by, almost literally, pulling a rabbit out of their hat with the upcoming release from their new signing, Prog Folk Rockers Tusmorke, whose new album is very different indeed in both concept and guest artists. Titled "Bydyra", which translated means "Urban Wildlife", this will be the fifth full-length album from the Norwegians. What is surprising about it is that this is the first album that Tusmørke have written specifically for, and performed with, children. Coming in with a whopping 15 tracks, "Bydyra" is composed of two original mini musicals that were written specifically for a local children’s school in Oslo…

Anders Muskens, fortepianist, presents piano sonatas by Beethoven on an original historical pianoforte from Beethoven’s time, built by John Broadwood & Sons in London circa 1806. This instrument is built in the English tradition of the late 18th and early 19th century, and its design is significantly different from those used in modern pianos by Steinway, Fazioli, Yamaha, and others. The Broadwood was restored in Amsterdam by Paul Kobald during 2022. The recording is presented with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Showing the influence of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, as well as an expansive understanding of jazz in general, pianist Michel Petrucciani weaves myriad textures, rhythms, and styles at the keyboard, producing work that sounds both complex and seamless. His brevity comes from both incredible technique and an ease with a wide range of musical settings: quintets, quartets, trios, and an assortment of duo settings. Petrucciani further expands the field here with a solo program of two originals and two standards. He kicks things off with the self-penned "The Round Boys Dance," an abstract boogie-woogie number full of mercurial improvisation