Though I love traditional piano repertoire, in recent years I have felt a growing urgency to collaborate with living composers. It is important to prevent the stagnation of collective creativity. Time doesn't stop, and neither should the evolution of the human spirit. Fueling creativity, such was the purpose for this recording. I had the pleasure of meeting composer Daniel McCarthy at the Interlochen Arts Camp in 1994, where we both taught as summer faculty. I was immediately captivated by the rhythmic drive, percussiveness, and energy of his music. Time Out of Mind contains six succinct, challenging, and effervescent musical gems. The road to learning these pieces was tumultuous, but the opportunity to finally share them has made it a rewarding and fulfilling enterprise. David Gillingham, José-Luis Maúrtua and Jay Batzner have been esteemed colleagues of mine at Central Michigan University for many years. José's compositional creativity has always held special appeal, primarily for his crafty adaptation of popular, folk-like Latin music and dance idioms. Collage for Piano is a well-balanced three-section work, featuring a vivacious Tango y Marinera that the composer skillfully links to a spirited Fugue on the popular Brazilian tune Tico-Tico no Fubá, via a charming, reflective interlude. Jay Batzner's work contains a vast array of nuances and techniques. The Lullaby Boxes explore the quiet and introspective nature of the piano, providing stark contrast with the majority of works featured on this recording. With minimal harmonic, melodic and rhythmical material, Jay transports and holds the listener pleasantly captive in his Lullabys' hypnotic bubble. David Gillingham's writing has always spoken to my heart and soul, for the sheer beauty of its melodic and harmonic language. The Concerto for Piano and Percussion Orchestra contains the exquisite Elegy, dedicated to the memory of my dear friend and colleague, percussionist Robert Hohner, who suffered an untimely death in the year 2000. David's Tourbillon, for piano, violin and trumpet, explores a variety of textures that create an unsettled atmosphere, reminiscent of the tornadoes the composer witnessed growing up in his native state of Wisconsin. - Alexandra Mascolo-David