'Adagio For Nobler Toners' the lead-off track from Pablo Held album Embracing You to be released in the autumn is streaming. Issued by the German pianist's new label Hopalit, Held, who also plays mellotron, synths and celesta on the album, draws from 8 originals, including this piece that makes use of a mellotron, and adds his stamp to pieces by Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter and John Taylor, recording the studio album in Cologne in 2020 and 2021.

Held was taught by revered English pianist and composer Taylor who died in 2015 and Held chooses to cover the ballad 'The Bowl Song' (Rosslyn, ECM, 2003) on Embracing You. Pablo Held, top. Photo: Hopalit/Bandcamp