Joseph Makholm - Standards and Improvisations (Willis Delony)

Information

Composer: Joseph Makholm

1. Standards and Improvisations: Standards I "Herbie's Anxious Years"
2. Standards and Improvisations: Improvisation I. Medium Fast, Swing Eighth Notes
3. Standards and Improvisations: Improvisation II. Ballad, rubato
4. Standards and Improvisations: Standards II "Yesterday Speaks Not"
5. Standards and Improvisations: Standards III "Blue Neptune Fantasy"
6. Standards and Improvisations: Improvisation III, Medium, Swing Eighth Notes
7. Standards and Improvisations: Improvisation IV. Bright Waltz, Swing Eighth Notes
8. Standards and Improvisations: Improvisation V. Medium Ballad
9. Standards and Improvisations: Standards IV "Juxtafixation"
10. Standards and Improvisations: Standards V "The Things You've Lost"
11. Standards and Improvisations: Improvisation VI. Bright, Even Eighth Notes
12. Standards and Improvisations: Improvisation VII. Fast, Swing Eighth Notes
13. Standards and Improvisations: Standards VI "I'm Your Only"

Willis Delony, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Centaur Records

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Renowned classical-jazz crossover artist Willis Delony, a Boyd Professor at Louisiana State University, presents Standards and Improvisations, a 2026 Centaur release dedicated to the music of composer Joseph Makholm. Reflecting Delony's four-decade career blending these two musical worlds, the album explores the intricate relationship between classical music and jazz. Delony, who has performed and recorded Makholm's innovative music for over 25 years, describes the project as a jazz-centered collection rich with straight-ahead swing, deep expression, and pianistic wit. The release highlights his enduring dedication to genre-spanning artistry, sophistication, and creative imagination.

Paris-based jazz pianist, trombonist, and composer Joseph Makholm has been a prominent figure in France's music scene since 1982, currently teaching at the Bill Evans Piano Academy and the Schola Cantorum. Heavily inspired by jazz's rhythmic and harmonic textures, his classical-jazz crossover compositions have earned international acclaim, with works like Three Impressions for Solo Piano recognized for their outstanding craftsmanship. Makholm's extensive portfolio includes orchestral portraits, chamber works, and highly regarded pedagogical collections like Jazz Tonic. His music is frequently performed and recorded by notable artists globally, including longtime collaborator Willis Delony.

Acclaimed pianist Willis Delony has forged a distinguished four-decade career as a premier classical-jazz crossover artist and educator. Currently a Boyd Professor at Louisiana State University, Delony’s extensive discography on the Centaur label includes his renowned Connections solo piano series and a 2026 release dedicated to Joseph Makholm. As an international soloist and chamber musician, he has performed across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, collaborating regularly with leading contemporary composers to premiere major works. His immense contributions to the field earned him the 2020 SEC Professor of the Year honor and induction into the Steinway Teachers Hall of Fame.

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