Jessica Williams - Blue Abstraction: Prepared Piano Project 1985–1987 (2025) [Hi-Res]

The album Blue Abstraction compiles a collection of previously lost recordings by Jessica Williams (1948–2022), created during her period of experimentation with "prepared piano" (1985–1988). Williams, a virtuoso jazz pianist who worked with genre legends, was heavily influenced by Thelonious Monk. Inspired by his approach to harmony and the concepts of John Cage, she modified the grand piano using household objects (screws, clothespins) to create unique sonic landscapes.

Unlike Cage, who relied on chance, Williams maintained melodic structure and tonal control, forging a personal musical language. These recordings, made in studios and at concerts in San Francisco, served as a means for the artist to explore her own identity and transformation. Although she later returned to the traditional piano, the techniques discovered during this period continued to enrich her work. After nearly 40 years, this innovative material has become available to the general public.

Tracklist:
1-1 Jessica Williams - Blue Abstraction [4:06]
1-2 Jessica Williams - Portrait of Picasso II [9:52]
1-3 Jessica Williams - Portrait of Matisse [2:52]
1-4 Jessica Williams - The Spider [4:08]
1-5 Jessica Williams - Odun-de [2:38]
1-6 Jessica Williams - The Banshee [5:52]
1-7 Jessica Williams - Half Circle Song [8:08]
1-8 Jessica Williams - Snow [2:44]