Album Notes

This album, performed by "one of the most outstanding artists of the flute of our age", is a recording that represents a unique blending of the quintessential American sound: musical theatre, ballads, instrumental songs, and traditional classical repertoire.

On Sounds of America, flautist Adrianne Greenbaum is teamed with pianist Alissa Lieser in a series of mainly light classical pieces by a variety of American composers. The selection is exquisite and covers a much wider spectrum of composers than can usually be found on such recordings. The title is ambitious, but Sounds of America succeeds in being an uncommonly representative cross-section of American music of the 20th century, and even in being quintessentially American. It succeeds by embracing as wide arange of American song (mainly) as an album of this kind permits, including musical theatre, ballads, instrumental songs, even an early jazz standard.

Adrianne Greenbaum, one of the most outstanding artists of the flute of our age, is beautifully complemented by Alissa Lieser's piano on this beautiful recording. If anybody needs convincing of Ms. Lieser's talents and artistry, let them listen to Jelly Roll Morton's Shreveport Stomp - it is undoubtedly one of the finest interpretations of this standard that it's been my pleasure to come across. The empathy of both musicians with their chosen composers and pieces is outstanding. They present these light or popular classics with uncommon depth as well as a refreshing enthusiasm and sense of exploration. The excellent liner notes provide further insight into the selections and their composers.

Sounds of America is an album that one finds oneself drawn to listen to again and again, a bit of a rarity in itself among recordings of light classics. Most such recordings tend to be pleasant enough, but often simply do not hold the listeners interest beyond the occasional casual listen. Sounds of America not only holds the listener's interest, but arouses curiosity and interest in investigating some of the music and composers in greater depth perhaps.

Grab it if you can!
Richard - "Renaissance Man"
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I don't listen to flute music very much because there are so many recordings
out there that make me not like the flute very much. As a matter of fact,
I've really been struggling to find inspiration to continue these last few
years. One of the reasons I spend so much time riding the horse is to clear
my head of all the crappy musical experiences I endure (not saying they're
all crappy but you know what I mean). I buy recordings of pieces from time
to time though, to keep in a library for my students to borrow from. I was
online looking for something and saw your CD, Sounds of
America. So I added it to my shopping cart.

I just popped it in tonight and I enjoyed it very much. So many recordings
really turn me off and yours was so refreshingly musical and enjoyable. I
just wanted to say it made me want to pick up my flute and play again. That
rarely happens these days, that I hear a performance that inspires me. In
fact, I cannot remember the last time it happened. So, thank you for that
bit of inspiration.

Great job, Adrianne.
KC
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About the Artist:

Adrianne Greenbaum, flute, is a nationally acclaimed classical and klezmer flutist. She received her Bachelors in Music from the Oberlin College Conservatory and her Masters degree from the Yale School of Music. As a classical musician she has performed as soloist and orchestral musician in all of New York's major concert halls and in many major cities of the U.S. She has appeared with such orchestras as New York's Mostly Mozart Festival (as soloist), the Berlin Ballet at the Met (as principal flutist), the Period Orchestra of the Fairfield Academy, and for many years performed with the New York City Ballet Orchestra. Currently she is Solo Flutist with the New Haven Symphony, the Wall Street Chamber Players, and Orchestra New England. She has held faculty positions at Wesleyan and Yale Universities, at Smith College, and is currently Associate Professor of flute at Mount Holyoke College. She can be heard in recording on the Koch International, CBS Masterworks, Nonesuch, and EMC as well as on her own solo flute album Sounds of America.

As a klezmer she is the founder and leader of "The Klezical Tradition" klezmer band, performing on both flute and keyboard and leading Yiddish dance. She is on the faculty at Living Traditions' KlezKamp and presents master classes in the art of klezmer performance to classical flutists. She has also performed with "Kapelye", with Adrienne Cooper in performances at the International Jewish Festival in Amsterdam and NYC's Jewish Museum and as accompanying artist with numerous cantors in concert as both pianist and flutist. As a clinician interested in sharing klezmer music with young people of all ages and backgrounds she also presents school workshops and directs three student klezmer ensembles in Connecticut and Massachusetts. "The Klezical Tradition" has won many awards for its recording Family Portrait, including Top 10 CD's from both Moment Magazine and the NY Jewish Week. The band was also chosen to be included as a feature in the ABC-TV documentary A Sacred Noise: The New Jewish Music. Adrianne lives in Fairfield, Connecticut.