Homenajes is a beautiful and heartfelt solo piano album by Hugo Selles, a Spanish pianist/composer that I’ve been reviewing (with enthusiasm!!!) since his 2012 debut album as Psychic Equalizer, Memories From a Cold Place. An incredibly versatile musician and composer, Hugo has had extensive classical training in Europe and this latest album indicates those classical roots more than some of his other solo albums.

Homenajes translates as “tributes” or “homages,” and the eighteen tracks on the album were each named for a flower. Sara Fuentes, the illustrator/artist who worked with Hugo on his Butterflies album in 2022, did the cover design and illustrations for each of the tracks on this album, too. This quote from Hugo Selles explains the inspiration for the music:

“It was a compositional challenge: writing short piano pieces, each around a minute long, capturing the essence of my experiences with important people in my life.”

In addition to composing and performing the music, Hugo recorded, produced and mastered the album. Of the eighteen tracks, seven are less than a minute and the longest track is just under 1.5 minutes. The pieces are stylistically diverse and very expressive, telling fascinating stories briefly and passionately. Hugo’s artistry at the piano is truly impressive, and this is one of my favorites of his piano albums.

Homenajes begins with “Nomeolvides” (“Forget-me-not”), a very sad piece that expresses deep emotion in a very minimal style. “Vara de San José” (“Tuberose”) is more subdued with lighter moments and some that are more powerful. “Plumeria” is quite dramatic yet very graceful - love it! “Flor de Lis” (“Lily”) ties together several passages that are quite different from each other - from subdued to fiery. “Amapola” (“Poppy”) is also quite diverse and powerful. “Madreselva” (“Honeysuckle”) is another favorite and has the melody alternating between the treble and bass parts of the piano. “Arbustos de las Mariposas” (“Butterfly Bush”) very effectively depicts the delicate beauty and rapid movement of butterflies - especially in a swarm. “Girasol” (“Sunflower”) is gorgeous and quietly unassuming, flowing gently and with ease. “Flor de Azahar” (“Orange Blossom”) is one of the showier pieces with a simple melody and lots of embellishments (but not TOO many!). “Calendula” (“Marigold”) begins calmly, but quickly becomes a virtuosic showpiece - a fascinating transition in just 49 seconds! “Magnolia” is both regal and somewhat melancholy, powerful yet delicate. “Peonia” (“Peony”) is built around glissandos (sliding up and down the piano keys) while the simple melody sings out around them, ending at the very top of the piano keyboard. “Aciano” (“Cornflower”) brings this excellent album to a close with a quiet melody and a light, catchy piano rhythm, trailing off at the end.

Hugo Selles has created another work of art with Homenajes. Bandcamp also has sheet music booklets as well as the album, but I’m not sure if the scores are available here in the US. The album is available to stream and download on Amazon, Bandcamp and Apple Music, and can be streamed on Spotify. Very highly recommended!