Global guitarist and composer Giovanni Piacentini releases his debut album, Chiaroscuro, through Navona Records. All 13 tracks (36 min, 13 sec) are themed around Piacentini's instrument of choice, with the composer also lending his performance skills to two of the tracks: 'Miniatures, for Guitar and Chamber Ensemble' and a solo guitar performance on the title track.

It's a diverse and interesting affair. Tracks like 'Miniatures - V. Mystere' offer a bizarre, other worldly quality, whilst the five part 'Chiaroscuro' delivers a Spanish guitar flavour and 'Chasing Shadows' gives us more of a classical music performance.

Whether you enjoy this album or not, you can't escape the fact that the composer really does stretch his creative muscles as much as is possibly, overing a wide musical experience, whilst still delivering three works that seamlessly bond together.

If the close of 'Chasing Shadows' doesn't get to you then maybe classical music just isn't your thing... or you don't have a soul.

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Darren Rea