New Arts International

- CD 1 compositions for solo piano by Jean-Michel Pilc in a studio recording, made in the Netherlands. CD 2 bonus CD Jean-Michel Pilc with free improvisations, composed and recorded in Montreal
- Double album with two solo piano recordings, conceived in a completely new form, on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean

Most people believe that growing up and getting older goes hand in hand with acquiring more knowledge and wisdom. It may be comforting to think that life teaches you things, and there is often some truth to it. However, to me, there is also a parallel, deeper reality at work.

The more I know, the more I need to unlearn.The music in this album, made during two very different sessions, using the invisible ink of improvisation, is about this mysterious and ever growing part of unknown which makes me create, forget, and create again.
Jean-Michel Pilc

After listening to Jean-Michel’s solo piano recording, which he sent us from Montreal, Anne de Jong (at the time, general director of Challenge Records) and I discussed a new release. Jean-Michel had already planned to come over to Europe for concerts and masterclasses, so I suggested to arrange a studio recording session in The Netherlands. The result is Parallel, a double album of two solo piano recordings conceived in totally different time frames, at both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, which turned out to be a perfect match. The studio album is a series of Jean-Michel’s inventions based on composed repertoire. The Montreal album is improvised music, all recorded in just one take.

For me, solo piano music gets straight into the heart of a composition, in its purest form. Parallel is an intriguing and exciting journey in Jean-Michel’s realm of composed and improvised music, which makes you want to listen over and over again.
Jasper Somsen