Yet another unmissable release from Marc-André Hamelin. From the easy-going elegance of "Tabby Cat Walk" to the high spirits of "Eubie’s Luckey Day" (and the altogether wilder antics of "Brass Knuckles"), William Bolcom’s lifelong and affectionate homage to—and continuation of—this archetypal American genre is a guaranteed winner.
For liner notes and ordering options: Hyperion Records
Rave Reviews
San Francisco Classical Voice: The Reverence and Irreverence of William Bolcom’s Rags (July 11, 2022)
"They’re wonderful little pieces that remove the cobwebs of a half century of neglect of the idiom, breathe new life into the formal structures, and then develop or undermine them with injections of advanced harmonies, deeper emotional resonances, and, most delightfully, Bolcom’s own quirky sense of humor." -- Richard S. Ginell
The ArtsFuse: William Bolcom’s Complete Rags — Fantastically Inventive and Rigorous (May 28, 2022)
"This is the definitive recording of William Bolcom’s rags, complete or excerpted: a triumph for the pianist and the composer, as well as a grandly spirited, accessible, inventive journey for any who care to join them on it." -- Jonathan Blumhofer
EarRelevant: Marc-André Hamelin plays the complete piano rags of William Bolcom (August 3, 2022)
"....discovering [Bolcom's] more chamber-like music is a joy. Having this music interpreted by one of the most brilliant pianists of today, Marc-Andrè Hamelin, is an auspicious combination." -- Giorgio Koukl