Jeff Beal - New York Études (2024)

Five-time Emmy-winning composer Jeff Beal releases his album "New York Études" of piano music.

Beal meticulously composed the New York Études at his Manhattan home in the months after he relocated to New York in 2021, resulting in ten works for solo piano that reveal Beal's mastery of composition, voice leading and harmony. Renowned for his extensive experience in composing for TV and film with credits including House of Cards, Monk, Blackfish and Pollock, these new works on the piano serve as a reintroduction to Beal's artistry and offer a new window into his work.

Beyond deepening his work as a multifaceted composer, the New York Études are rooted in the highly personal. When Beal was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2007, he began researching ways to combat its degenerative effects on motor skills and cognitive function, learning about the tremendous impact of piano playing on neuroplasticity, or the process of rewiring the brain around areas of damage. The New York Études are the organic result of his commitment to the betterment of his mind, body and soul in the face of chronic illness. "An added benefit I discovered while composing and practicing the Études", Beal says, "was the sense of calm and focus I experienced. I've become keenly aware of the importance of wellness rituals for all of us that promote good mental, spiritual and physical health."

Tracklist
01. Riverside Revelations
02. Sun Surrounds (us)
03. Invocation (for Joan)
04. I'm With You (for Rosemary)
05. Elation
06. Gratitude (hymn)
07. Winter (snowflake)
08. The More Things Change
09. Come Down, Angel
10. Corridors of Calm