This recording presents four trios by American composers who are linked by their New England experience and studies at Harvard University. Three of the four works (the Piston trios and the Perera trio) are new additions to the currently available recorded catalog. Leonard Bernstein's 1937 trio is one of the composer's earliest works, written during his apprenticeship at Harvard. Its three movements are by turns dance-like, bluesy and jazzy. Violinist Joel Pitchon is active as a soloist, concertmaster and chamber music player. He has received acclaim for his performances with nationally and internationally renowned ensembles. He also works extensively in chamber ensembles. Marie-Volcy Pelletier, cellist, is a native of Paris. She received the Premier Prix in Cello and Chamber Music from the Conservatoire National de Région de Boulogne-Billancourt, France, where she studied with Michel Strauss. Yu-Mei Wei has served as piano faculty at Taipei National University of the Arts, University of Taipei, and Chihlee University of Technology. She is the winner of numerous international piano competitions and a member of two renowned chamber groups with which she has recorded five albums.

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REVIEW:

Three of these trios are said to receive their recording premieres here, which makes this album all the more welcome. Another reason is the evident joy the present artists derive from performing them, which they really succeed in communicating to us.

– Audio Visual Club of Atlanta