Laurie Altman, Isabel Pfefferkorn, Alexander Gil & Clipper Erickson - Briefly: Songs & Poems (2026) Hi-Res

A composer’s birthplace and place of residence certainly influences their works, especially in the case of New York City composer Laurie Altman. BRIEFLY is a profoundly, existentially cosmopolitan album: half recited poetry, half art song cycle, set minimalistically for soprano, piano, guitar.

Altman’s talent has always been painting the negative space — with music that defies conventional definition. Neither quite classical nor quite jazz, it instead hovers in a mysterious, almost metaphysical realm. If one were to roam the streets of NYC in hopes of a life-changing experience, BRIEFLY would serve as a fitting soundtrack.