Pianist and composer Michael Stephen Brown releases his debut album of original works titled ‘Twelve Blocks’ on February 13, 2026. This First Hand Records release features a series of musical portraits inspired by the personal stories of his mentors and collaborators. The album includes the title track “Twelve Blocks” as a single which arrived earlier today. Listeners will find twenty-three tracks that range from technical piano miniatures to expansive song cycles. This collection is a vivid tapestry of tributes and character portraits that highlights a distinct compositional voice.
The record features an elite group of performers including soprano Susanna Phillips and the SPA Trio. Brown also collaborates with his mentors Jerome Lowenthal and Ursula Oppens for the four hand piano work that gives the album its name. The music captures specific moments in time such as a daily walk through New York or the tragedy associated with the lakes at Yaddo. Every track on this album feels like an essential piece of a larger emotional puzzle.
One significant highlight is the song cycle ‘Love’s Lives Lost’ which sets poetry by Evan Shinners. The work explores the reunion of former lovers with a blend of humor and elegance. Another personal inclusion is the “Breakup Etude for the Right Hand Alone” composed during a period of physical injury and isolation. These works demonstrate how Brown transforms lived experience into virtuosic performance art. The album concludes with “Pour Angeline” a quiet love letter dedicated to his fiancée.
Brown earned dual degrees from the Juilliard School and has received an Avery Fisher Career Grant for his work. His compositions have been commissioned by organizations like the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Beyond his writing he remains an active soloist performing with major symphonies across the country. This new album serves as a definitive look at his creative evolution as both a performer and a creator.