Pianist and composer James Adler made his debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the age of 16, the start of a varied career in the United States and Europe. He has appeared throughout the world at leading concert venues, including New York City’s Alice Tully and Carnegie Halls. He made his London debut at the famed Wigmore Hall. Known as a pianist who “can create whatever type of music he wants at the keyboard” (Chicago Sun-Times), he has had particular success with his account of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, the final work on this disc. His succinct description of the whole program perfectly sums it up: “I wanted to prepare a CD program that is fun. Has rhythm. That is danceable. That is a little jazzy with depth and lyricism, and celebrates American traditions in music. Though not necessarily in chronological order.”