John Novacek (b. 1964): Four Rags (1999)
George Gershwin (1898-1937): But Not for Me (1930) {arr. Jeremy Ajani Jordan, b. 1989}
James Louis 'J.J.' Johnson (1924-2001): Lament (1954) {arr. Jeremy Ajani Jordan}
Scott Joplin (1868-1917): The Entertainer (1902) {arr. Jeremy Ajani Jordan}
Amy Beach (1867-1944): Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23 (1893)
Henry 'Harry' Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949): Southland Sketches (1916)
Jonathan Ragonese (b. 1989): non-poem 4 (2017) {arr. for violin and piano, 2018}
Kevin Puts (b. 1972): Four Airs: IV. Air (previously called Aria) (2000)
Thelonious Monk (1917-1982): Monk's Mood (1943-44)

Over the last few decades, America's identity, character and image have all but eroded away. The only thing which remains constant, be it in its original form or revamped to align with today's sound, is America's endemic music. This eclectic yet homogeneous program bringing together blues, rag, jazz, folk and classical elements spanning more than a century, well demonstrates that American music, past and present, is highly distinctive and representative of American culture.

With a relaxed, in the groove, almost laissez-faire approach, violinist Kristin Lee and pianist Jeremy Ajani Jordan deliver renditions of these pieces that feel so natural and off-the-cuff as to almost sound improvised, which suits this type of music extremely well.

The almost lascivious melody of 4th Street Drag from Novacek's 'Four Rags', the smoky nightclub vibe of Gershwin's But Not for Me, the bluesy melancholy of Johnson's Lament, the highly lyrical and expressive Romance by Amy Beach, the Spiritual longing of the Allegretto grazioso from Burleigh's 'Southland Sketches', the emotionally charged beauty of Air by Kevin Puts, and of course the unequivocal sound world of Monk's Mood by Thelonious Monk.

It's all there and projected with effortless flair and a propensity to speak from the heart in genuine fashion. Kristin Lee readily tailors the tone of her instrument to the piece at hand.

A South Korean born violinist who now resides in the United States, Kristin Lee holds a Master's Degree from the Juilliard School, and is an Assistant Professor of Violin at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. The violin used for this recording is a 1759 Gennaro Gagliano from Italy. Jeremy Ajani Jordan also studied at the Juilliard School, and is the recipient of the winning prize at the 2006 Steinway Concerto Competition. He is a composer of piano, chamber, and orchestral music as well. This is the debut solo album by Kristin Lee with the collaboration of Jeremy Ajani Jordan, and based on what they have to offer may there be many more.