Hong Kong-born and an honors graduate from USC School of Music, Steve Siu is establishing himself as one of the finest pianistic interpreters of popular standards. Classically trained, Steve prefers to employ his vast talents with popular music, movie themes, and show tunes, but he occasionally includes a popular classical piece, played as written - a very nice touch from this piano teacher’s perspective, and I hope he continues to do so as it clearly demonstrates how comfortable he is in both musical worlds. On this volume, he includes Chopin’s “Nocturne in Eb”, playing it with masterful ease. The arrangements and executions of all thirteen pieces are wonderful, and Siu keeps the glissandos and trills to a very tasteful level. The selections range from George and Ira Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me” to Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” (bravo!!), and include “Over the Rainbow”, “Summer of ‘42”, “I Dreamed a Dream”, and “Out of Africa” (a favorite!), as well as “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” and “Theme from Love Story”. Being a collection of “most requested romantic pieces”, this is a good and varied mixture. For me, teaching many of these songs as often as I do, I’d love to hear a collection of Siu’s own favorite pieces. His pianism is flawless, and with pieces that are less familiar, I get drawn in immediately. But, that’s my own unusual standpoint as a piano teacher. If you enjoy extraordinary playing of favorite tunes, Steve Siu is your guy! His CDs can be purchased from stevesiu.com.