Scorpion Tales is Duo Scorpio's debut release. It contains a unique selection of modern masterpieces and new works for harp duo, including Le Jardin Des Paons and Parvis by Bernard Andres, Raga by Caroline Lizotte, and world premiere recordings of Crossfade by Sebastian Currier, Scorpion Tales by Robert Paterson (commissioned by Duo Scorpio and the American Harp Society) and Unfurl by Stephen Andrew Taylor. Each work explores the rich sound world created by two harps, and the entire album was produced by Grammy winning recording engineer Adam Abeshouse. The formation of Duo Scorpio is as fascinating as the album: harpists Kathryn Andrews and Kristi Shade were born on exactly the same day, November 5, 1982, making them both Scorpios; they both moved to New York City after undergraduate school, completed their Master's Degrees at The Manhattan School of Music and studied with harp legend Susan Jolles. Scorpios are known for their determination, hard work and love of a challenge, which is definitely exemplified in this stunning debut album.

Jeremy Justeson is one of America's finest saxophonists, and this is his debut recording on the American Modern Recordings (AMR) label. This recording contains seven contemporary works, all of which feature the saxophone, and most include at least one other musician. All of the pieces in this album are world premiere recordings, and a few feature the composers performing their own works. Works include: Pistol Packin' Mamma for alto sax, violin and piano; Walimai for also sax and piano; Sultana for soprano sax and piano; schizo 'squito for solo alto sax; Tongue and Groove for alto sax and five-octave marimba (four mallet version); Spirit for alto sax and piano, and Pimpin' for baritone sax and recording. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH TRACK � Pistol Packin' Mamma is about three conflicting personalities that are very rarely in harmony with each other ��Walimai is inspired by a character in Isabel Allende's fascinating collection "Cuentos de Eva Luna" � Sultana takes it's name from a female sultan � schizo 'squito is inspired by the schizophrenic life of a mosquito ��Tongue and Groove is inspired by carpentry, rhythmic interplay, fast tonguing and oral sex � The title Spirit refers to raising one's spirits and the general tone is one of warmth and positive emotion ��Pimpin', the title track, is the only work on the album not by an American composer, and is based on original speech by American pimps and prostitutes JEREMY JUSTESON BIO Jeremy Justeson has performed as an orchestral soloist and recitalist across the United States, Europe and Asia. Dr. Justeson currently serves as Professor of Saxophone and Director of the Wind Ensemble at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Active regionally, nationally, and internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, clinician, and conductor, Dr. Justeson has appeared in venues such as New York's Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium and Lincoln Center Avery Fisher Hall, Dallas' Meyerson Center, San Antonio Symphony Hall, Allentown Symphony Hall and San Diego's Copley Symphony Hall. A proponent of new music, Jeremy Justeson has premiered numerous pieces, worked with many of the day's leading composers and performs as a member of the New York City based, American Modern Ensemble. He also serves as the Executive Director of the CASE Arts Group, Inc. a non-profit arts organization supporting performances and commissions of new music. Current CASE projects include a consortium commission of composer Joan Tower for her first original work for solo saxophone. Jeremy Justeson's celebrated debut CD Juggernaut is available nationally on the Equilibrium label. A native of San Diego, Jeremy Justeson received the Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Fullerton, the Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Jeremy Justeson's primary saxophone teachers have included James R�tter, Harvey Pittel and Dr. Frederick L. Hemke. Jeremy Justeson is a Selmer Performing Artist and Clinician.

Aur�ole is widely considered to be one of the world's most revered flute, viola, and harp trios. The trio has commissioned and premiered more works and released more albums for their instrumentation than any other similar trio in the world. Embracing The Wind is Aur�ole's fifteenth album, and their debut recording on the AMR label. The first work on the album, by Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim, fittingly titled 'Chamber Music,' is regarded as one of his most intimate in instrumentation and content. It explores a colorful dialogue between the three instruments that moves from playful to meditative and prayerlike. The title work on the album, 'Embracing The Wind,' is by award-winning American composer Robert Paterson and is one of his most-performed works. According to Paterson, his "muse" ensemble when composing this work was Aur�ole, so he is thrilled to be included on this album. The third piece on the album is the three-movement work 'Veiled Echoes' by Lior Navok. In the composer's words, 'Veiled Echoes' "was written during a one month stay at Aspen, Colorado. While being surrounded by wild nature at it's best, writing a trio for flute, viola and harp seemed to me as the most natural thing..." The final work on the album, 'Thamar y Amnon' by Ian Krouse, is a chamber tone poem based on one of Federico Garc�a Lorca's Tres Romances Historicos (Three Historical Ballads) from Romancero Gitano (Gypsy Ballads). This work is embedded with deep, extra-musical meaning and has deep ties to Lorca's paean to illicit eroticism.