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

Friends from Sankyo

This year at NFA brought me the great pleasure and honor of meeting the man who designed my headjoint! As flute players know, the head joint is thought by some to be the most important component in giving your flute's 'sound'. Mr. Jun Hagata is a master artisan from the Sankyo Flute Company. I have played Sankyo for many years, but have been so impressed with my newest flute (I have had it about a year). Jun's warmth and kindness is heard through the beautiful tone my flute makes...I am very grateful to him and all the Sankyo artisans who make some of the finest instruments in the world! Almer and I were also so happy to reconnect with one of Sankyo's most respected representatives, Fumie! We met Fumie about a year ago but feel as if we've known her our whole life. She brings such joy to all she meets...we call her Almer's sister from Japan (she even speaks a little Bosnian)! Please enjoy these photos of our dear friends Fumie and Jun!

AlmaNova with Ali Ryerson and Maestro Jim Walker at 08 NFA

This year's National Flute Association Convention was especially memorable because it was the year that my flute professor and mentor from USC, Jim Walker, was honored with the Life Time Achievement Award.  For those of you who are not familiar with flute players, Jim is probably one of the few you have heard on a regular basis.  He is the number one flute player for all the movie studios...having played on hundreds of films including Jurassic Park, Forest Gump, and Pirates of the Caribbean.  Not only is he a legend on the classical flute, but he is also one of the most outstanding jazz flutists in the world.  His band 'Free Flight' is a phenomenal group playing an unique blend of jazz and classical music!  Almer and I were very happy to attend this special event...we even got to have a jam session at the Sankyo/Gemstone booth with Jim and the great jazz alto flutist, Ali Ryerson on one of our favorite Chick Corea tunes, Spain!  Enjoy the photos!

The Big Apple

We love New York!  

This was our very first trip to New York City and I was so happy to visit the town where both my Grandmother and mother were born!  Even though we only spent one day, we saw a lot thanks to our super tour guide, Kevin Stoller!  I even got a chance to see Ellis Island...my great-grandparents came through there from Austria.  Hope you enjoy these photos we took in Central Park, Little Italy, and Almer playing guitar with a local in Long Island!

A Surprise in Pennsylvania

One of the highlights of our tour with Valencia Vas and Kevin Stoller was our encounter with one of the best sound engineers in the world.  Mr. Glenn Kern is the personal sound engineer for none other than Al DiMeola and Ian Anderson!  WOW!!!  Can you imagine how he made us sound!  We were all blown away by this great 'sound experience'.  When you play a live amplified show, you never know what you will get in terms of sound systems and PA's.  In this case it was beyond any of our expectations!  As you can see from the photos, Almer felt like a rock star...and Glenn made him sound like one!

AlmaNova with Valencia Vas and Kevin Stoller on the radio!

As part of our tour on the East Coast, we were fortunate enough to be featured on Pennsylvanian radio to promote one of our shows.  We spoke a little about how we came together as a band.  It actually is quite an unusual group...a classically trained soprano, flute, guitar and keyboard/piano who play cross-over!  Almer was the first to meet Valencia....he recorded a few tracks on her album, Reflections.  I was the next to join in and the keyboardist, Kevin came last.  So far we have had a great time on our first official tour together and we hope for many more in the future.  If a clip of our interview becomes available, we will post it!  

AlmaNova on tour with Valencia Vas and Kevin Stoller

We recently we honored and thrilled to share the stage with some very fine musicians.  Valencia Vas is a soprano whose began as an opera singer.  She now sings cross-over and performs original works.  Kevin Stoller is an exceptional keyboard player who has toured with the likes of Stevie Nicks.  Our first concert with Valencia and Kevin was in Huntington, Long Island in New York.  This was quite a thrill for us for many reasons.  The first of which being it was our very first time in New York.  Secondly, we were performing in a venue that had recently featured New York native and the piano man himself, Billy Joel!  Thirdly, we were playing for a very warm and receptive crowd!  Please enjoy a few photos we took during our sound check!  Also, don't forget to check out Valencia's website for some sound bytes!  

Tiburon

One of our favorite places to escape to is the beautiful and scenic town of Tiburon in Marin County just north of San Francisco! Before heading to Monterey, CA for a concert with Valencia Vas and Kevin Stoller, we were able to spend a few days of relaxation and fun! Enjoy the photos of Almer by the bay and Jessica enjoying her favorite cappuccino! We are off to NYC next week!