None of the piano "greats" seem to have performed or recorded the solo piano music of Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990). Perhaps simply because most of it, with some exceptions, does not speak directly to the heart but instead appeals to the intellect. And surprisingly so since Bernstein the conductor was a highly expressive and deeply visceral musician. But most of his piano pieces are more preoccupied with solving musical puzzles, connecting motivic links, untangling harmonic progressions, and fusing jazz and classical rhythm sequences. And then you come upon pieces like the Thirteen Anniversaries No. 3: For Stephen Sondheim or even more so the Thirteen Anniversaries No. 7 In Memoriam: Helen Coates in which Bernstein meant to capture the essence of a person, and all technical details fade away, and his deeply expressive nature along with his 'Americana' are revealed.

Italian pianist Michele Tozzetti captures and projects all of these facets of a complex individual very well, with meticulous attention to details, accents, and rhythmic alterations. His delivery is always clear and unmuddled, which suits the motivic manipulations very well, and avoids adding extra emotional baggage to the more intimate pieces. These are highly personal and introverted musical statements from a man who used to revel in spectacular musical opulence, and Tozzetti treats them as such, and leaves the listener feeling like he's just had an intimate conversation with the composer.

Highly recommended if you want to explore yet another facet of Leonard Bernstein, a true 20th century 'Renaissance' man.