Piers Lane goes to town

"Piers Lane gives the impression, here, of finally getting to record all the stuff he's secretly wanted to do but never had the chance. This is technically a collection of encores, but it's also a series of treats of very different kinds. There's a stark toccata by his father Alan, Bach's beloved 'Jesu, joy of man's desiring', a splash of jazz and rumba, a Beethoven parody, and the pianist's own booklet essay explaining why he loves it all. Confirming the very personal feel of this disc, Piers Lane writes his own notes on the music. Like the disc itself, the notes are amiable, approachable, witty and a pleasure to loaf around with. The sound quality is up to Hyperion's standards. As long as you don't expect much profundity, you'll have a lot of fun with this." (MusicWeb Oct 2013)

"Lane's joie de vivre is infectious in the more flamboyant pieces. He loves these pieces, and isn't coy about telling us that we can, and should, love them too. Flamboyance and poetry are nicely balanced, and Lane attacks the cheesier numbers with such relish that resistance is futile." The Arts Desk, 12th October 2013