Featuring 12 piano/vocal ballads and acoustic duets, "Muse" is Valerie's most intimate record yet. Ten songs are duets featuring acclaimed musicians Dave Eggar (cello), Robin Macatangay (acoustic guitar), Nadia Ghent (viola), Booker King (acoustic bass), Dennis Moriarty (harmonica) and Yuri Lemeshev (accordion), with additional touches by Bashiri Johnson (percussion) and Katie Kresek (violin). Eleven of the songs were written by Valerie, and one song, "Refrain de Mon Enfance", was written by Valerie's great-uncle, Eugène Cavos, in Paris (1954). Unaware of the song's existence until 2008, "Refrain" went on to miraculously reconnect Valerie with long-lost family in Europe. "the songs on muse were recorded as live performances in their entirety. there are no punch-ins, no piano or lead vocal overdubs. I recorded many of the songs myself, so even if I wanted to punch in, it wouldn’t have been possible!" Musicians: Valerie Ghent - piano/vocals Dave Eggar - cello Nadia Ghent - viola Katie Kresek - violin & viola Robin Macatangay - acoustic guitar Booker King - acoustic bass Yuri Lemeshev - accordion Dennis Moriarty - harmonica Bashiri Johnson - percussion Recorded at Kampo Studios, Shelter Island Sound, Jam On It, Above Asia Recorded by: Steve Addabbo, Valerie Ghent. Alan Gold Mixed by: Valerie Ghent, Tsuyoshi Inoue Mastered by: Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound originally I conceived muse to be piano/vocal only, to be listened to as though you were sitting in the living room - a personal, intimate musical experience. later additional instruments became part of the music, all thanks to the wonderful musicians who added their own beauty and expression to each song. As duets, the songs redisovered themselves, and I along with them."