A composer of Cuban, Russian and Austrian Descent, the most musically wondrous Benji Kaplan grew up hearing various types of music and languages, especially (Yiddish, German, Spanish Hebrew and English) as a child.

In his latest long-playing endeavor, Untold Stories (due out May 1st, 2024), Benji lovingly fuses Brazilian music with influences of neoclassical, romantic and impressionistic styles. Brazilian rhythms such as maracatu, samba, baião, choro, bolero and maxixe canbe heard throughout.

1. Untold Stories (4:01)
2. Xaxado em Alegria (2:38)
3. Oblivionism (3:52)
4. Streams, hills and forests (1:50)
5. An east side story (2:37)
6. Choro de Inconsistência (3:02)
7. Illusion’s Waltz (3:29)
8. Stride and True (3:26)
9. The Vigilante (3:42)

This magnificently impassioned, genuinely heartfelt new recording opens on the intricately sculpted, titular Untold Stories and then we get the upbeat and flourishing Xaxado em Alegria, the delicate gossamer of Oblivionism, and then we get the free flowing Streams, hills and forests brought forth.

Along next is the emboldened An east side story and the gentle swirls and twirls that ebb and flow within Choro de Inconsistência and they are in turn followed by the truly sumptuous Illusion’s Waltz, the album rounding out on the graceful Stride and True, closing on the organically-hued The Vigilante.

www.benjikaplan.com

Benji Kaplan @ Facebook