Ramón Valle

The pianist Ramón Valle has lived in the Netherlands for years. In 2006, he had long since returned to his native Cuba when he was asked to write a composition for classical guitarist Esther Steenbergen. He called the piece Molinas which means something like Mills. While he was composing he was inundated with memories of the Netherlands. He felt that the years he spent on Dutch soil clearly left their mark on the way he developed himself as a musician and artist. Thus the idea developed to release Flashes From Holland. It shows how a Cuban who at first does not speak the Dutch language feels, and is slowly becoming more and more established. The relaxed Cuban life collides with the hectic feeling of a metropolis like Amsterdam where tourists get in each other's way, but slowly both cultures unite to form a steadfast feeling of habituation. Valle knows how to interpret this in a phenomenal way and enlisted the help of guitarist Jesse van Ruller for extra Dutch impulses.

Joachim Kühn - Allegro Vivace: Piano Works I (2005). Just judged by its repertoire, this is certainly an impressive solo piano date. Joachim Kühn performs works by François Couperin (a mass from 1690), Bach, Mozart, John Coltrane, and Ornette Coleman in addition to three of his own originals. Although the mixture of classical and jazz pieces might seem illogical, Kühn's subtle improvising on the classical compositions and his ability to create melodies in his improvising on the jazz tunes give this date an evolution that somehow works. Kühn has always had impressive technique and a healthy musical curiosity. Both serve him well, along with his imagination, on this intriguing and successful outing…