“We, the classical musicians of today, are constantly looking to narrow the gap between today’s trends and classical music. In an attempt to make classical music appealing to the younger generation, we bring it to night clubs and bars. Cross-over has become increasingly popular too. As I prepared for this CD recording, I started to realize that what we are doing today was in fact already championed by these courageous Parisian composers and artists almost 100 years ago. My message to the audience of this album is not an academic one, but to share my journey. For me this recording project was like discovering gems in a jewellery box. This selection of music brought me vivid images of what Paris must have been like at that time: the glamorous night life, the lights, the noise of the city and even the scent of the perfume. I hope that you can experience this journey with me.” Miki Aoki