Erik Saty

Japanese label Triton has released a Pascal Rogé album with a rather remarkable program; Crystal Dream features the eminent French pianist in a program that interweaves short piano pieces by Erik Satie with others written by contemporary Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu, mostly pieces drawn from his Pleiades Dances. Both composers employ relatively simple melodic concepts harmonized with elegant, though elemental, kinds of accompaniments, so perhaps the combination makes sense. On the other hand, Satie never lived into the age of rock-based pop music, his engagement with the popular consisting mainly of French music hall tunes, and later in life, a sort of half-understood perception of ragtime rhythm. Yoshimatsu, however, would not be Yoshimatsu if it weren't for his strong connection to pop, though admittedly in Satie's case the pop group Blood, Sweat & Tears' adaptation of his Gymnopédie No. 1 once earned Satie a Grammy-winning single. Either way, one might wonder "how does this combination-slash-conversation work?"

If you're a fan of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Rick Wakeman, this is definitely something for you. Big instrumental symphonic rock from the keyboardist most well known for his work with Lana Lane and Rocket Scientists. Backed by a bunch of experienced musicians, among them his wife Lana Lane, fellow Rocket Scientist member Marc McCrite and John Payne (Asia)…

New Masters Academy brings you modern masters that teach you art. Here you have Erik Olson teaching you perspective.