Under the Stars is the second volume in the American Piano Music Series, bringing together twenty-one works by seven composers whose music spans more than a century of American musical life. From ragtime and early American classical music to jazz, film music, and deeply personal contemporary expression, the album reveals just how many different worlds can exist within the sound of a single piano.

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The program brings together the syncopated brilliance of Scott Joplin and Zez Confrey, the lyrical beauty of Amy Beach and Florence Price, the unmistakable jazz voices of Dave Brubeck and Keith Jarrett, and the cinematic warmth of Dave Grusin. Their musical languages could hardly be more different, yet heard side by side they form a fascinating portrait of the creativity and individuality that have shaped American piano music.

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Most of the pieces are arranged as a continuous musical journey rather than grouped by composer or period. A quiet, introspective work may lead into something rhythmic and playful; jazz can give way to romantic lyricism, ragtime, or the atmosphere of a film score. Florence Price’s Dances in the Canebrakes and Zez Confrey’s Three Little Oddities remain together as complete suites, preserving the musical arc their composers intended.

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At its heart, Under the Stars is an album about variety, discovery, and the pleasure of hearing familiar traditions from unexpected angles. Some of this music comes from composers whose names are known around the world; other pieces may be completely new to you. Together, they offer twenty-one distinctive glimpses into the richness, imagination, and enduring beauty of the American piano tradition.