I’ve been hearing a lot of this name recently, James Rhodes. At first I thought, wonderful, another pianist to join the legions of already recorded, but then I met him. When I put the CD in the computer a video came up with him explaining exactly why he put together this CD. First thing that comes out, is that he’s slightly crazy (and obviously never does any housework) but that this is OK. He quite clearly doesn’t care that he’s what people in the classical industry have been crying out for, a hip, young performer with the requisite technical and musical skills to back him up. He’s comfortable being himself, tattooing Rachmaninov’s name on his arm (that’s a good question actually, which spelling did he use I wonder?), and putting together an interesting set of repertoire. Although the music is fabulous and well presented I find I am more interested in him as a person and musician after watching the two videos that are encoded on these two discs of Bullets and Lullabies. Listen to him, watch his videos, see him when he comes to town and it will be interesting to hear the general consensus on the grapevine.