Album Notes

Double bassist Jeremy Kurtz presents two new works for double bass and piano, paired with a French baroque sonata, in this beautiful new recording made in a partnership project with Houston's KUHF."Sonata for Double Bass and Piano" by composer (and Louisiana Philharmonic principal bassist) David Anderson starts the disc. Anderson has been influenced by wide range of musicians, from Dmitri Shostakovich to Jaco Pastorius, and his writing shows this diversity. The three movement work includes lyrical writing, syncopated rhythmic \"groove\" sections, and even a handful of direct Shostakovich quotes (which the dedicated listener may notice.) The second piece, "Three Meditations," is a pensive, lyrical work Kurtz commissioned in 1999 from Puerto Rican-born composer Luis Prado. Each movement is inspired by a poem by Prado's famous great-uncle, Luis Palés Matos. Kurtz is joined on the Anderson and the Prado by pianist Ines Irawati, who adds her sensitive and powerful playing to the performances.The final piece is the Sonata in D Major, Op. 50 No. 3 by Boismortier. The Sonata was published to be performed by a range of bass instruments (bassoon, cello, or gamba), and this is the first recording of it on the double bass. Kurtz is joined by the stellar continuo section of harpsichordist Alison Luedecke and bassoonist Benjamin Kamins.CD exclusive (not available for download) -- Hidden track, featuring Jeremy Kurtz and producer Kurt Stallmann on piano: "Outtakes from a Work in Progress."Reviews for "Sonatas and Meditations" --"Kurtz [displays his] impressive technical control, clean articulations and rich, creamy mid-range tone." -Strad magazine"All of this wonderful programming would be for not if it weren't also for Kurtz's extremely warm, rich sound quality; his impeccable intonation; his reserved use of vibrato; and his ability to make his instrument truly sing. [5 Stars for performance, 5 Stars for recorded sound]" -All Music Guide"Kurtz has a rich cello-like tone and his instrument is perfectly captured in the first rate recordings." -Audiophile Audition