Alen/ Villaverde - Cuban MemoirsDistinguished Cuban composer Andres Alen's works are characterized by a unique fusion of Cuban dance, jazz, and classical genres. His works have been performed by such legendary Cuban musicians as Arturo Sandoval and Paquito D'Rivera, among others. He has been described as "one of Cuba's most complete musicians." Yet his piano music has rarely been recorded. Enter the brilliant Cuban American pianist William Villaverde. Alen was his mentor in Cuba for

each song evokes the complex duality of meditation-where simple intersects with infinite

He also included parts for certain unusual instruments such as bass flute

to show what they had in common

and The Hoochi Coochi Coo

and is often heard with the best and brightest of his New York City peer group

Sharon Van Etten) on a body of work she had compiled over months of being in lockdown

his latest and most ambitious work to date: a complete cycle of instrumental music

This album of orchestral showpieces features four of the five members of the Mighty Handful

it was Herbert Stothart's score for The Wizard of Oz that won the Oscar

Parallel stories

Elise Neumann plays with her acclaimed warm and soulful tone on a rare instrument built by the luthier Daniel Friederich in 1969

It presents the works of two female and three male composers