[drop_cap]Chapman Stick Soloist Michael Kollwitz’s new album “Secret Mountain” is now available at  https://store.cdbaby.com/all/stikmstr[/drop_cap]

Available both as a physical CD and as a digital download, “Secret Mountain” contains 16 tracks of Chapman Stick instrumentals including 9 new originals and 7 cover songs. The album was recorded using both 12 string Grand Stick and 12 string Stick Guitar (SG12) and has a playing time of just under 60 minutes.

Although still relatively little-known, The Chapman Stick may well be one of the most versatile and expressive musical instruments ever devised. Using a two-handed pianistic technique (rather than plucking or strumming) The Chapman Stick allows a musician to play simultaneous multi-part arrangements with both hands at the same time. In addition, the lush sounds provided by a guitar synthesizer can be added in real-time creating full, rich music that sounds unlike any other instrument.

Kollwitz was one of inventor Emmett Chapman’s first students and has focused exclusively on this amazing instrument for over 40 years and is considered one of the instrument’s virtuoso performers. Kollwitz is also one of The Chapman Stick’s most prolific recording artists and the new album “Secret Mountain” is his 20th release.