Julius Asal brings works by the French composer into a lively dialog with his own improvisations to mark the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth. SIENA TAPES combines Ravel's “Jeux d'eau”, “Prélude in A minor”, “Menuet sur le nom de Haydn” and “À la manière de Borodine” with Asal's “Prélude (3191)” and “Cascades I-III”. The album was recorded in Tuscany on the estate of US producer Rick Rubin and will be released digitally as well as on CD and vinyl on September 5, 2025. “There are places where you would like to continue playing even after the audience has gone home,” the pianist recalls. “Somehow I had the impression that the sounds in those walls could echo forever.”        

Tracklisting:    

[1] Tape Zero
[2] Asal: Cascade I
[3] Ravel: Prélude in A Minor, M. 65
[4] Ravel: Menuet sur le nom de Haydn, M. 58
[5] Asal: Cascade II
[6] Ravel: Jeux d’eau, M. 30
[7] Asal: Prélude (3191)
[8] Asal: Cascade III
[9] Badzura: Petites Vagues
[10] Ravel: A la manière de Borodine, M. 63/1