Eclectic Studies is the second album of original piano solos composed and performed by Kosta Jevtić, an amazing and very inspiring artist originally from Serbia who is now living and teaching piano in northern Norway. Kosta's 2020 album, Reflections on a Journey, was one of my favorite albums for that year, just as Eclectic Studies will be for this year. Although very strongly classically-influenced, it is impossible to put this album into one specific genre or category - something I always really appreciate! Very powerful, emotional and incredibly well-played, the six titles are simply "Eclectic Study I," "Eclectic Study II," etc. leaving it up to the listener to decide what the music means or what inspired it. Most of the six pieces were composed in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid lockdowns, but the project needed to be put on hold while Kosta relocated to Norway. He recorded the album in July 2024 while visiting Porto, Portugal, and performed it on a Fazioli concert grand piano. There is a YouTube video of Kosta performing the full album live in the studio and I highly recommend it.

The album (obviously) opens with "Eclectic Study I," a lively piece with a quiet, swirling energy that is in constant motion. As the piece unfolds, there are some dramatic moments and some that are much quieter, but that swirling motion runs throughout, closing with a long fade-out. "Eclectic Study II" is much calmer and more peaceful and makes me think of the gentle movement of moonlight on a body of water. The second half of the piece builds into a much bigger and more powerful sound - maybe a storm or some other form of turbulence? Magnificent! "Eclectic Study III" contrasts a simple but very heartfelt right hand melody with an energetic left hand that propels the piece forward and upward. It's a fascinating study in contrasts while expressing deep emotion. "Eclectic Study IV" begins in the bass half of the piano, setting a quiet, thoughtful mood as the right hand gradually moves into the treble half of the keyboard. There is a very free, spontaneous feeling to this beautiful piece that is both graceful and from the heart. It reminds me a bit of Erik Satie in places. "Eclectic Study V" starts out with a rhythmic pattern in the deep bass of the piano and an interesting melody that is also in the bass but closer to the middle-range of the keyboard. The right hand continues to alternate above and below middle C, building energy and intensity as the piece progresses. I really like all of the tracks on the album, but I think this is my favorite with its dark left hand moodiness and often-exhilarating joyfulness on the right - a great study in contrasts! The last track, "Eclectic Study VI" is by far the longest of the six at a little over eight minutes. It begins very gently, but feels almost tragic in its sadness (my interpretation, of course!). The second movement of the piece is much more passionate and dramatic, and continues to be very dark - an emotional powerhouse! The last section returns to the tragic feelings of the beginning before fading out to the end. In a word, "WOW!"

Eclectic Studies is outstanding from the first notes to the last! It is available to stream and/or download from Amazon and Bandcamp, as well as on many streaming services including Spotify and Pandora. Both thumbs up!