New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Classical guitarist Yuri Liberzon officially released Ascension to both domestic and international listeners on Friday, July 17th 2015.
It wasn't long before the album received a stunning review from classical music critic Dan Cohen at The Muse's Muse. He writes: "...he's all about melody, all about communication, all about heart. It's his Ascension, to be sure, but he wants to take us with him. My advice to you-- drop everything and go!"
The album has also been submitted to the
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for first-round consideration at the upcoming 58th Annual GRAMMY® Awards.
Yuri's success in the United States began with full scholarships to study with two of the world's leading guitar figures: Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, and
Benjamin Verdery at Yale University School of Music. Mr. Liberzon went on to successfully complete his Graduate Performance Diploma and Bachelor's degree from Peabody and finally a Master's degree from Yale. His skills have also earned special recognition by the USCIS; Mr. Liberzon was granted Alien of Extraordinary Ability United States Permanent Residency based on his achievements in the music field.
With the release of this album, Yuri is in a position to gain recognition beyond the San Francisco Bay Area where he currently resides. It features the well-known Chaconne from J.S. Bach's Partita No. 2 In D Minor For Solo Violin, BWV 1004, as well as jazz pianist Keith Jarrett's Köln Concert Part IIc.
This is only the beginning of what we will see of Yuri Liberzon in the classical world. He hints in the album notes that there are more recordings to come: "This recording symbolizes my ascension as musician and human through the passage of time. It showcases music that resonated with me from when I was a kid back in Russia, teenager in
Israel and my adult life in the USA. In no way is this album a representation of the peak of my ascension, but rather a milestone on my way towards it."
The album also showcases the talent and resources of the San Francisco Bay area: performed on a 2011 Gil Carnal (a
Santa Cruz luthier) guitar, recorded at the Robert Blitzer Art Gallery in
Santa Cruz, mastered at Michael Romanowski Mastering in San Francisco, and produced by Yuri Liberzon and Nahuel Bronzini.
Ascension is available for digital download on all major platforms such as iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Play, and Spotify. CDs are available on Bandcamp and direct from the artist's website: www.yuriguitar.com.
