Album Release: EMPORIUM Music of Aldo López-Gavilán

Out Now: Aldo López-Gavilán’s Highly Anticipated Album "Emporium"

We are thrilled to announce the official release of "Emporium," the vibrant new album by internationally acclaimed Cuban pianist and composer Aldo López-Gavilán. Released by Reference Recordings, this album features three world premiere recordings captured live in superb, audiophile-quality sound.

For this monumental release, López-Gavilán is joined by the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Michael Butterman, as well as the world-renowned clarinetist Ricardo Morales and guest concertmaster Jubal Fulks.

The album takes listeners on an otherworldly musical journey, blending the rich traditions of classical music with the spontaneity of jazz and the infectious energy of Afro-Cuban rhythms. Here is a look at the three masterpieces featured on the album:

1. Emporium for Piano and Orchestra The centerpiece of the album, Emporium, is a dynamic and wildly eclectic piano concerto. The first movement is based on a beautiful melody that López-Gavilán originally wrote as a birthday present for his twin daughters. He chose the title "Emporium" to describe a place where you can find many different things from all over the planet. True to its name, the concerto is a cornucopia of global influences, acting as a declaration of unity that weaves together everything from traditional classical structures to post-revolutionary Cuban Nueva Trova and American country music.

2. Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra This deeply emotional concerto serves as a respectful homage to López-Gavilán’s late grandfather, the legendary Cuban clarinetist Juan Jorge Junco. Featuring the virtuosic playing of Ricardo Morales on clarinet, the piece journeys from a somber, searching opening into a lively, jazz-infused finale that is both spicy and whimsical.

3. Hechizos (Spells) for Solo Piano Rounding out the album is a mesmerizing solo piano triptych that perfectly captures López-Gavilán's "power of thought" and improvisational brilliance. Translating to "Spells," Hechizos is an intoxicating and hypnotic composition. The triptych is divided into three spellbinding movements: Mariposas Nocturnas (Nocturnal Butterflies), Hipnosis (Hypnosis), and Conjuros (Incantations).

Whether you are a fan of classical concertos, jazz improvisation, or Latin American dance rhythms, this album is an absolute must-listen that expands the boundaries of contemporary music.

[Click here to listen to and purchase "Emporium" today!]