Jazz and classical sensibilites collide on pianist Robert Prester's new album, Rapsodya.
The album tackles classical solo works from master composers as well as his first ever take on composing in the sonata form. Prester says that an accidental move to the New York City neighborhood of Queens led to a creative flood that helped shape his new work.
"Queens just felt like this big, wide-open craziness," he says. "It was a great period for me."
Prester, who's released several jazz albums, uses Rapsodya as an opportunity to fuse the traditional form and structure of classical music with elements of jazz melody and rhythm. He says this is the first time he has been able to truly integrate both styles.
Listen to Prester's full conversation with Katy Henriksen using the link above.
