NEW CD: "After Hours"

We are happy to announce that our new CD, "After Hours" has been released!  This latest project pays tribute to some of the most beautiful and haunting melodies from Macedonia.  We also have included some exciting new original works that reflect this part of the world.  Hope you enjoy!

If you'd like to purchase your copy of "After Hours", please click here.

Click on each of the tracks below for sample sound bytes:

Bosna Nova

Jovano, Jovanke

Massimo Dancing

Rain

Almer students performed at Loyola Marymont University Guitar Festival!

Almer was very proud of three of his 'star' students...Eric, Sierra and Sofiane were all chosen by audition to perform in the LMU Young Artist's Showcase during their big guitar festival week.  They all were professional and played beautifully.  There is nothing better for a teacher than to see their students succeed!  Bravo to you all and now we will look to the next big challenge together!

Almer Imamovic and Scott Tennant in Santa Barbara

We had a great time with Maestro Scott Tennant in Santa Barbara during the Santa Barbara Symphony 2nd International Guitar Festival. Off course we meet at Peet's coffee for a little break. Aside from playing a great concert as part of the festival, we were so happy to hear a new concerto for the LAGQ by Sergio Assad called Interchange.  It was a very exciting piece and well played by the quartet and the orchestra.  The LAGQ is always an amazing group to hear.  Bravo, guys!

AlmaNova World Music Collective Feat. Jim Walker!

Hi All!

For those of you who missed our recent performance, here is a taste of what went on!  We played with a fabulous group of musicians and had a very warm and generous audience.  The highlight of the night was when my flute professor from USC, Maestro Jim Walker, joined us on stage to help us premier one of our new tunes "Massimo Dancing".  Please enjoy this clip of a true master flutist and unparalleled musician...we feel so honored to have had this experience!  

Thank you, Jim!!!!

ps...to see more of this great evening of music click here

Tapkalica

Review of the "Debut" by Carla Rees

AlmaNova is a flute and guitar duo comprising Jessica Pierce and Almer Imamovic.  It was formed during their studies at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris.  The folk-influences music on this disc includes Imamovic's arrangements of the traditional Bosnian works and his own compositions.  It is not clear from the sleeve-notes which are which, as there is no individual information about each track other than the listing on the back.  

Sarajevo Nights is an upbeat track, with percussive definition and a florid flute melody.  This track gives the disc a strong opening, well-written for the instruments and allows both players to shine.  The playing from both of those performers is idiomatic and immediately demands attention.  Moj Golube is a moderately paced ballad with a lyrical melody given well-chosen ornamentation.  The opening of Uzeh Djugum i Mastrafu is haunting beautiful, with rich, dark flute tones heard over tremolo guitar.  The mood lightens, and a poised dance follows.  Theme for Carolyn moves through several changes of mood, with a simple melody line varied through the use of different accompaniment style on the guitar.  Scott's Guitar is a beautifully performed solo for guitar, while Tapkalica is another fast, rhythmic track, with repeated melodic patterns building the momentum to a frenzy.  La Nuit avec P.K. is another languid guitar solo which develops into a toccata-like dance with a punchy groove.  The exotic Jamilla's Dance has a Dance of the Seven Veils quality to it, with Pierce's seductive pitch bends demanding attention.  Dinner with J.D. features multi-tracked flutes in a piece which has a more western-pop style - parts of this track reminded me of Kenny G - than the rest of the disc.  The Bosnian roots return for the final track, Song for Marcus, in a fast paced dance, which also features some multi-tracking.

This is an enjoyable disc which adds an interesting dimension to flute and guitar repertoire.  Those players are clearly passionate about their choices of repertoire, and Pierce makes excellent use of ornamentation in her playing to give a sense of drama to otherwise simple melodic lines.  Both players have excellent technical control and they have a wonderful report as a duo.  

-Carla Rees, MusicWeb-International.com

Te Amo

It was nice to see some good friends in our recent visit to Chicago!  We were invited back to two encore performances with the Chamber Opera Chicago's Te Amo from last year.  As it was last year, both shows were sold out!  We can't wait to come back and play with this innovative and original opera company!  See you there next year!  

CRITIC'S CHOICE, 2008!

AlmaNova "Classic Giuliani"

CRITIC'S CHOICE, 2008

American Record Guide 

More exciting news has come from the American Record Guide!!!  In November we received a very good review in their Nov./Dec. '08 edition and now have learned we were chosen as Critic's Choice, 2008!  We look forward to more successes in 2009!  

After the Holidays!

We are so happy to announce that we will be recording our third album this month! Over our winter break from concertizing and teaching, we were able to work on this exciting project. This new release will be along the same lines as our first CD, "Debut". We have returned back to Almer's Balkan roots, this time exploring the music of Macedonia. It is a mix of our arrangements of these beautiful traditional folk melodies as well as Almer's original works. Please check back...it should be ready to go by this spring!

Song for Marcus

American Record Guide!

We were honored to have been reviewed in the premier recording guide publication, the American Record Guide! They reviewed our latest release, 'Classic Giuliani' in the November-December 2008 issue. Please read below if you don't have a copy of the guide.

If you would like to purchase your copy of 'Classic Giuliani' for the holidays, click here!

AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE

In May/June I reviewed a similar program by a Danish violin-guitar duo, Kim Sjorgen and Lars Hannibal. I responded warmly to that performance, but this one is even better. I was prepared not to like this, a self-release of a pair of young players with little information about the music or performers. I had to go to their websites to get their last names, beyond Almer and Jessica (come on, folks, the world needs adults). But I thoroughly enjoyed these performances. Though the scores do say "for flute or violin and guitar", I think the music works better on flute than violin. Certainly there are no double stops or specialized bowings that might be idiomatic for the violin but impossible on flute. Actually, any melody instrument can do these, but the parts seem especially right for the flute.

These are really elegant, tasteful performances. Pierce is a fine player with a lovely sound and a great sense of balance with her partner. She phrases subtly and beautifully and really understands this style. Imamovic is a fluid, somewhat understated player, but a solid partner who never seems to struggle.

Another advantage to this recording is that it does not include the frankly odd set of variations played by Sjorgen and Hannibal, but does include the Grand Duo Concertante, Opus 85. That is not as virtuosic or imaginative as the Gran Duetto Concertante, but it is quite lovely and has a ravishing melodic slow movement.

AlmaNova's Giuliani is some of the best I've heard.

-AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE/K.KEATON

COMING SOON: AlmaNova LIVE DVD

We are very excited to announce that a live DVD performance of the 'AlmaNova World Music Collective' will soon be available!  This live DVD was shot as part of a South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival at the South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory.  We had a 5 person HD camera crew with...the top guys in L.A.  The sound is phenomenal and all was directed, edited, and produced by one of the top Hollywood director's:  Rich LaBrie!  For those of you who are familiar with our music, this will give you a new perspective on some of our most loved tunes...and will hear Almer shred on his electric guitar backed up by a fantastic band! 

This coming  Saturday, November 15 will be playing in SPMCC at 7pm as part of the Music Festival and the pre-release DVD's will be available for sale! See you there!

Pictured above is a preview of the DVD cover!

REVIEW of 'Classic Giuliani'

We were really excited and honored to come across this great review of our latest release, 'Classic Giuliani'.  It comes from the online resources for CD's, Minor 7th and was written by James Scott.  Please read and hope you enjoy!  Ps...if you haven't already, you can purchase your copy from our website www.almanovaduo.com

AlmaNova's second release, "Classic Giuliani," offers  masterful interpretations of the late Italian guitar virtuoso's enduring work.  AlmaNova is an innovative duo consisting of American flutist, Jessica Pierce and Bosnian guitarist, Almer Imamovic.  Both musicians are classically trained and faithfully perform Giuliani's cannon with both grace and passion.  Jessica Pierce's virtuosic flute is prominently featured throughout this recording.  Her rich, warm intonation draws the listener deeper into each composition.  Imamovic's supportive pianistic approach is also noteworthy, providing an excellent backdrop for his partner's melodic cadenzas.  The guitarist also creates intricate rhythmic patterns and dazzling solo flights demonstrating a solid fluency on his instrument.  Together the two eloquently produce impeccable performances of classical music which are sure to please even the most discerning listeners of this genre.

Jamilla's Dance-SHEET MUSIC

Jamilla's Dance-VIDEO