Darkness whispered outside, and frosty stars sparkled in the windows. Bits of fake snow and glitter were scattered here and there, with crumpled-up programs lying in the pews and the last strains of “Joy to the World” echoing in my head. The Christmas concert was over, and my family was off in the reception hall snarfing down sugar cookies with everyone else. Normally I’d be with them (I have an awful sweet tooth)...but this time, something had told me to stay behind.

I glanced around the sanctuary one last time. The dim lighting combined with Christmas-sparkle gave everything a sort of...

Italian pianist and composer Livio Guerra has just released his last LP, entitled “Piano Offering Number Five”. The project is a collection of short piano pieces, mostly solo piano but sometimes with a soft counterpoint of oboe, flute or viola enhancing the harmony.
While Livio Guerra’s music may generically be defined as contemporary/jazz it conveys a very special and distinctive mood, most appreciated by piano lovers looking for modern and subtle harmonic solutions supporting enjoyable melodies, perhaps with an italian flavour between the notes.
Livio Guerra has published a number of...