Leftovers is the fourth full-length album from Italian pianist/composer Alberto Giurioli and is also his debut album on the Decca Records US label. Now based in London, Giurioli’s music has been streamed tens of millions of times, topped the classical music charts and has captivated concert audiences all over the world. I have to admit that this is my first exposure to his music, and I’m very impressed! It reminds me at times of some of Ludovico Einaudi’s music, but Giurioli definitely has his own unique style and approach. Recorded on a felted piano, the album was conceived as a collection of life’s emotional fragments - the moments, feelings and experiences that linger long after they’ve happened - while connecting the past and present through raw, unfiltered performances.

Quoting Alberto Giurioli:
“I wanted it to sound like the listener is sitting in the same room with me and enjoying the record live. You’re going to hear the anxiety and the breathing, because it makes everything more realistic. It’s not like other classical records that are basically perfect; I want that roughness. I’m trying to provide the human interaction you’d get from a show….These songs reflect my life experiences, and I’ve collected them together into a concept.”

Leftovers begins with “Reverie,” a dreamy, slightly hypnotic piece that sets the tone of the album. “Kokoro” is a bit more on the mysterious side with dramatic bass notes in some places and a dancing right hand in others. “Love Story” expresses passion and deep emotion as it tells its story honestly and from the heart. “Blue Day” is a very dark and powerful waltz that lightens and picks up the tempo a bit near the middle before returning to the darker opening theme. Giurioli uses the dampers to great effect on this one - especially near the end! “A Quiet Sun” is a much lighter waltz - warm and contented. “Dolce Vita” has an infectious yet gentle energy as it tells its bittersweet story. “Glare” begins with a rather simple melody supported by a lively opposite hand (I’m not sure which hand is doing which!). The rhythms shift around in places, giving the piece an edgier feeling. Other passages are quieter and more thoughtful - a fascinating mix! “Autumn” evolves throughout the piece, reflecting the many changes that fall brings - from very quiet and still to more dramatic and restless. “Arrival” begins with a bright, lively energy that supports the more sparse melody. The piece intensifies rather dramatically near the middle and then gradually tapers off as it approaches the end. “Fragile” was released as a single and has a quiet intensity that keeps it moving forward. The changing themes tell a compelling story that you can create in your own mind, bringing the album to a peaceful close.

I’m so glad I’ve been introduced to Alberto Giurioli’s music and look forward to hearing more of it! Leftovers is available from Amazon as a CD, on vinyl, mp3 and to stream; it can be streamed and downloaded from Apple Music/iTunes, and is on many streaming sites including Spotify and Pandora. Very highly recommended!