Peter Beets is one of the most-recognized piano giants of our time. He is acclaimed worldwide, and his star keeps on rising while his creativity keeps increasing. In variable musical activities, from the accompaniment of "first lady of jazz" Rita Reys to his timeless arrangements of classical music, Beets' personality and signature are always unmistakable.

Supporting or disordering, emphatic or contemplative, world class pianist Peter Beets faces this brand-new jazz orchestra with 18 young musicians. Jazz maestro Henk Meutgeert composes new music and directs this bunch of up-and-coming young talents. Henk Meutgeert is known as a dynamic band leader and energetic arranger. Peter Beets is an acclaimed pianist who "takes" an entire orchestra with his refined swing. By leaving a lot of room for personal interpretation of the musicians themselves, while still keeping a tight grip on them, the maximum is achieved from both the musicians and the listener. Experiment and improvisation go hand in hand with razor-sharp swing and jazz tradition. The repertoire on this album summarizes what the orchestra has in store for the future with works by composers such as Wagner, Chopin, Piazzolla, Jobim and Ellington. These works have been arranged by Henk Meutgeert and are supplemented with new work by both Henk and Peter, with the emphasis on the essence of jazz: swing and improvisation.

Peter Beets: "With this, my latest album celebrating the timeless melodies of one of America's and the world's greatest composers, I have the chance to showcase it all - classical, blues, jazz, Latin, and folk music! This is the legacy of George Gershwin who continues to inspire musicians of every persuasion and instrument - and of course, me." As one of the most sought-after jazz artists of our time, Peter Beets has attracted a devoted international audience, performing regularly at major jazz festivals and venues throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. He has shared the stage with jazz greats such as Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, "Toots" Thielemans, Elvin Jones, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Benny Golson and Kurt Rosenwinkel. One of his earliest recordings, "First Date" (1996), featured the great Jeff Hamilton on drums. In 2001 the Criss Cross label invited Peter for a series of albums with his "New York Trio", inviting artists like Willie Jones III, Larry Grenadier and Greg Hutchinson, earning him international acclaim.

Peter Beets is internationally recognized as a phenomenal jazz pianist. He celebrates great success with his swinging variations on the timeless melodies of Chopin. Now the maestro comes with a strong follow-up: Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and All That Jazz! In the spring of 2023, Beets travelled to New York to record this long awaited album. Enjoy!