Parallel

‘Parallel’ is a double album with two solo piano recordings, conceived in a completely new form.

CD # 1 comprises compositions for solo piano by Jean-Michel Pilc in a studio recording, made in the Netherlands and CD # 2 consists of free improvisations, composed and recorded in Montreal.

“Most people believe that growing up and aging goes hand in hand with gaining knowledge and wisdom. It may be comforting to think that life teaches you things and there is often something true about it. However, for me there is a parallel, deeper reality at work. The more I know, the more I have to unlearn. The music of this album – created in the last years, in two very different sessions with the invisible ink of improvisation – deals with this mysterious and constantly growing part of the unknown: create, forget and recreate.” ~ 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

Released July 27, 2018
Label: Challenge Records