High Rise

Xak Bjerken, pianoWhy "High Rise?" I imagine many have spent an evening drinking with friends, trying to come up with an appropriate name for something. That evening for me produced such winners as "I Leave the Lid Up," "Does Not Play Well With Others" and the like. I certainly did not have a sexy theme, but I felt that the contrasting styles and nationalities (Tartar, French-Japanese, Puerto Rican, etc.) worked well side by side. The works do not complement each other in the conventional sense, but hold and engage us with their unique characters, and the image of the city high rise full of separate, bustling lives seemed good. This recording is a tribute to the vitality of the composer-performer interaction-one that has provided me with enormous regenerative energy in the last few years. - Xak BjerkenThis title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print boo