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Acoustic Electronica

The Court at Versailles

Label: Handcrafted Records
Released: 2026
Duration: 42:07
Views: 130

Tracks

A Walk; Rez / Cowgirl; Come On My Selector; Light Through the Veins; Strobe, Pt. 1; Strobe, Pt. 2; Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites; Cmon

Personnel

Additional Personnel / Information

Co-Produced by Kevin Ponto (Tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 7)

Album Description

The Court at Versailles, a jazz piano trio led by pianist and composer Joel Pierson, releases its debut album Acoustic Electronica on August 14, 2026, on Handcrafted Records. The record reimagines eight landmark works of electronic dance music entirely on piano, upright bass, and drums.

A Question Years in the Making:

For longtime friends Pierson and producer Eric Palmquist, the album began as an idea that surfaced repeatedly in late-night conversations. Pierson built his career in jazz and contemporary classical music, while Palmquist built his in alternative, pop, and electronic production. Their interests eventually met around a single question: what would happen if a jazz trio reimagined the seminal works of electronic dance music?

"The album fuses the power and precision of EDM with the risk and humanity of live jazz performance," says Pierson. Rather than treating the material with the white gloves often reserved for jazz interpretation, the trio approached each track as something open to experimentation and reinvention.

Rebuilt From Acoustic Sources:

The album reworks material by Squarepusher, Underworld, Deadmau5, Skrillex, Tycho, Fred again.., and Jon Hopkins. Tracks include "Come On My Selector," "Rez / Cowgirl / Two Months Off," "Strobe, Part 1," "Strobe, Part 2," "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," and "Cmon."

With the musicians based across Los Angeles, Mexico, New York, and Paris, each part was recorded separately, then assembled and produced by Palmquist. Every texture and soundscape on the record derives from the acoustic instruments themselves, with no synthetic sources layered on top.

The Musicians:

Joel Pierson (piano) is Creator and Artistic Director of The Queen's Cartoonists. Eric Palmquist (producer) has worked with Billie Eilish, Bad Suns, and Tate McRae. Sam Minaie (upright bass) has toured internationally with pianist Tigran Hamasyan. John Hadfield (drums) has performed with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble and the Saturday Night Live Band.

Acoustic Electronica follows three pre-release singles: "A Walk" (December 2025), "Rez / Cowgirl" (February 2026), and "Light Through the Veins" (June 2026).

Album uploaded by Eric Palmquist