“Beneath Mexican Stars” is for my wife, Monica, and it is indeed her favorite composition. BMS first appeared on my album “Amistad” and then again recently on “By Myself” I always like to hear my music in ways other than when I play it on the piano. I thought “Beneath Mexican Stars” would sound wonderful…

Michael Hoppé’s By Myself is the twentieth album of his that I’ve reviewed, starting with his 1996 release, The Yearning. One of my all-time favorite artists, Michael has created an extraordinary body of work in his long and colorful career. Melodic and often tinged with melancholy, Michael’s music is rarely composed for solo piano, making this a…