Francesco Tristano Essentials

Few musicians demonstrate such ease in seemingly incongruous stylistic worlds as pianist and composer Francesco Tristano. Early on, the Luxembourg native established himself with authoritative interpretations of Bach and Prokofiev, but his curiosity and creativity soon led him to write his own music. His 2016 album Surface Tension broke out club beats, but he simmered it all down with Piano Circle Songs a year later, balancing pop-like concision with an ethereal touch. He makes no distinction between classical fare and the work of Detroit techno heavies like Derrick May and Carl Craig—it all springs from the same well.