Archive for the ‘Mood: Positive’ Category

Music and Movies are two of the most popular internet search terms used today.  These two forms of entertainment by themselves are enough to spark our interest alone yet when audio and visual productions are merged into a movie soundtrack, film score or popular music video, the results achieve an even more exciting sights and sounds experience.

David Mauk from Las Vegas Nevada is a composing performer with plenty of experience in the entertainment business while advancing in popularity from his 12 Months debut released in 2009.  His first album created much excitement for many and equally so for David since 12 Months received nomination at ZMR for Best Electronic Album and also earned David a Best New Artist nomination for the year. 

Ground Swell is his 2010 release, unique not only by the great mood effect of his classic yet easygoing electronic compositions but some songs were inspired by American realist painter Edward Hopper and Ground Swell is a CD / DVD collector’s edition that beautifully captures the early American century with Cinematic drama and makes a nice collection by any standard.  The 5 bonus video clips are nicely correlated with his unique brand of classic electronic music and are a beautiful addition to the audio CD since the extra sensory effect of video makes it easy for anyone to visualize his ambient music becoming a modern times movie score.

The National Geographic Society has already realized the dynamic effect of his compositions by integrating as their official music with many exhibits including King Tutankhamun, Golden Age of the Pharaohs, Real Pirates and Cleopatra museum exhibits, in fine music that enhances the experience for every museum visitor.

David Mauk has given everyone 2 excellent reasons to appreciate his music in 2010.   The Ground Swell CD alone is a free flowing natural display of bright ambience offered with a harmonious and casual impression, plus the DVD greatly points out the Cinematic enchantment that makes his music special.

Ground Swell is in effect an Ambient, Electronica, New Age album with a total of 14 songs.  The 5 song descriptions I will provide from the CD are ones also listed on the bonus DVD, in this all inclusive CD / DVD collection and you will find the 9 additional songs are sequential to the atmosphere and ideals this album in entirety represents.

Dawn in Pennsylvania has a singular piano melody backed by a deeper synthesizer profile that gives depth to the overall bright and casual mood and is effective at producing a story line of realism by a light atmospheric point of view with cymbal taps and percussion enrichments.   Summertime is like an ode of joyous celebration the summer season always represents, marching right along in attitude by a majestic piano movement.  Lower piano octaves maintain the rhythm while upper ranges move up and down the scales in half steps while bell tones ring in the seasonal event.

Chop Suey relies on tenor drum and percussion rhythms as a prelude to keyboard producing the light staccato note melody with a casual feel.  During refrains the dynamics are rearranged to a deeper tenor and nicely embolden the song while adding tonal drama.  Queensburo Bridge carries nice rhythmical metrics by strings subtle back and forth sway while light synth notes and key changes introduce sparkling overtones into the melodious theme.

New York Movie is a dreamy song that transports you to a different place and time with strings becoming the prevalent character in the lighter melody.  Percussion plays a more indirect role by sharp woodblock notes and when xylophone enters, the soft percussion detailing projects nice sparkling tones in a secondary rhythm.

David Mauk made 12 Months an impressive introduction into New Age music.  Ground Swell is another fine classic that makes musical entertainment an even better experience, offering his appealing to the senses experience like the premiere attractions many people are searching for at this very moment.

Visit the davidmauk.com homepage and then sample / purchase on his music page.  Learn more about David at his MySpace page and then our pages dedicated to David Mauk.

Cover art copyright Kelly Stamblesky – Smith. Picture copyright BigStockPhoto.com – Ondrej Garaj

The United Kingdom based MG Music label has much to be proud of these days.  The 25 year anniversary for Medwyn Goodall and Clifford White alone is reason to celebrate, yet MG label artists Steve Orchard and Paul Sills also have excellent releases planned this year.  You will find the quality artisanship delivered by this close circle of friends is special with each artist retaining their own integral voice which to me makes MG label artists significant.

Steve Orchard is a New Age artist from the United Kingdom quite masterful at producing electronic instrumental music composed with many improvised mood sensations that nicely culminate into a repertoire of lively rhythms blended with a kaleidoscope of colorful melodies.  The end result is one singular voice implanting a vivid melody image right beside a natural and reposeful atmosphere.   

Raindancer is his current release and first in a trilogy series based in theme on 3 natural elemental word, with each in series containing the dancer suffix.   Sundancer & Moondancer are future releases and I can already tell you that his spirited dancer series illustrates a rare quality of relaxing yet energetic melodies that readily achieve universal appeal.  His prior albums Voyages Beyond Midnight, Salt Water Café & The Consequences of Kisses are highly regarded earlier works and certainly worth a listen too.

Steve Orchard made a great impression on me with his first in series Raindancer.   This admirable collection of beautiful melodies exhibit the standard of excellence and integral voice Steve Orchard so boldly represents, brightly illustrated by his picturesque first release in the alluring Dancer trilogy.

Steve Orchard is a prolific singer songwriter having composed and performed original music for many years on guitar, mandolin, and harmonica, various skin drums, piano and keyboards.  His music was featured on BBC Radio, film scores, local radio jingles, plus Steve was a band member in 100’s of concert venues with other artists and a well recognized soloist in South West & London England during the 1990′s era.

Raindancer begins the initial splash of bright colors painted on a fresh musical canvas in a vivid song portrait titled Tribal Fire.  The lighter vibrato in soprano vocals make the primary background shades to flute’s breezy hues, nicely accented by snare drum taps and free flowing rhythms.  Keeper of the Sacred Trees & Cajon Sun are enhanced pan flute and keyboard melodies attuned to light synthesizer bordering while percussion assists by even handed rhythms in a fine blending of tropical harmonies.

Acoustic guitar then takes a turn holding the primary melody brush in Cajon Moon, primed with a steady synthesizer outline backed by flute and tenor drum. Guitar and pan flute emblazon the impression by a faster tempo in free flowing songs Amazona, Pathway Through The Forest & Festival, with each song inscribing bright reflective patterns by progressive guitar rhythms, flute expressions and percussion cadences that portray a flamboyant resemblance.

Passion Flowers & Where Rivers Meet are compositions with airy Latin & World influences which make easy going songs by light flute notes dreamy ambience and gentle tracing by guitar strums having a soft percussion mix in the first, then tenor drum outlining in the second. Road to Manaus has a dreamy groove concept by light flute refrains intertwined with deeper keyboard and acoustic guitar that travel along a harmonic pathway together with even symmetry.  The orchestra phrasing with strings and resolute percussion smoothly enhance the delightful mood illustration in this song.

Anocondas Caress completes the colorful spectrum and gives one a chance to admire the total picture on this album filled with exotic surroundings.  In an exclusive move during composition, this song is quite captivating using two metrical rhythms where flute nurtures the primary melody while guitar draws on half step chord rhythms during a concurrent secondary melody, rising in chord phrasing to nicely elevate the tropical atmosphere. 

This beautiful song in proportion to the entire album is a nice exhibition of the integral voice Steve Orchard so boldly represents and in addition, sets the standard of excellence for his all inclusive Dancer Trilogy.

Visit the steveorchardmusic.co.uk homepage right here.  Sample Raindancer on his music page and learn more about Steve on his biography page.  Visit his MG Music profile page to sample / purchase then learn more about every Medwyn Goodall label artist at the mgmusic.ltd.uk website.  

Cover design and layout Copyright MG Music courtesy of Medwyn Goodall. Below Picture copyright Bigstockphoto.com – wtolenaars

When you hear New Age Contemporary Instrumental music having great rhythms and a wonderful upbeat atmosphere expertly blended with beautiful electronic melodies, this may be a promising sign you are listening to one of many quality songs produced by Davol !

Davol has just released Good Sign which decisively aligns itself to symbolize my description above and become an encouraging assertion to those in the music world already familiar with his first name artist title they are indeed listening to someone known for producing top quality music. 

Successful in many aspects of his life, after obtaining a Ph.D. in 1989 his earlier career as a medical researcher and microbiologist were judiciously shelved in 1996 when he began a commercial venture producing multimedia music.  During the same year his debut Mystic Waters became another personal success and made it to # 15 on the Billboard New Age Chart, where it remained a lengthy 25 weeks. 

The decision to pursue a full time music career was fantastic news to those who already knew of his premium quality melodies, plus the worldwide usage of his songs involving television, radio, video and numerous multimedia production scores has clearly magnified this proficient artisan to many more.

Good Sign is an album that upon closer examination is rapidly multiplying in popularity and already making waves with his fans since the April 2010 release date.   ZMR has set at # 3 for the month of April, so another positive finding for the very latest from Davol. 

The 4 additional albums A Day Like No Other, Open Book, Paradox & Nature Of The Beast are all relatives to his current yet each one is a natural variation that evolves into their individual class, each interrelated by a characteristic source of fascinating drama.

Davol has exceeded his artistic intentions with Good Sign and the early reactions granted to his progressive album does replicate the characteristic source of fascination one will find in his entire discography.  Good Sign is symmetrical to Davol’s principal expression of innovative quality music accented with inspiring drama. 

 Scarborough Days is the first song of 8 tracks that gives you a clear indication of the momentum and direction of this definitive album, along with the resulting positive influences his entire discography symbolizes.  This lively song highlights the optimistic upbeat feel and beautiful keyboard synthesizer melodies those who collect his albums know so well and treasure.

Good Sign ( Title Song ) is more moderate by a light ambient feel that will brush a dark cloudy day away for anyone and promptly replace it with a bright sunshiny day full of color simply by the rich interwoven keyboard melody.

Truth 2010 is an electronic Dance / Club influences remix featured during the popular online video now available on this album.  A heavier percussion tempo prepares the groove rhythms before exploration into deeper shades of electronic intensity and is very much in time when comparing to his conceptual Truth Video which captures the superficial and unbalanced influences often portrayed in television media.

Nautikos is another favorite by displaying a natural sophistication and contemporary elegance given the positively upbeat keyboard melody blending notes to perfection.  This song steadily integrates harmonic spectrums in sound while harboring the glowing standard of inspiration Davol can readily achieve, making this album and his entire music collection an exceptional find for anyone. 

Those already familiar with his captivating music have another reason to celebrate.  Newcomers will perhaps experience this sweeping source of fascination for themselves and learn why everyone is excited about this promising new discovery by Davol.

Visit davolmusic.com to sample / purchase or visit his CDBaby.com page.  You can also find out more about Davol at his biography page and MySpace.com page.

Picture Copyright BigStockPhoto.com – Yakobchuk

When searching by computer for talented artists in your favorite genre, a couple of simple search terms might quickly get you good results.  If not, you can try searching the many recording labels to help you find talented artists, or at least point you in the right direction.

Lisa Downing is one name to search for, and Vision Quest Entertainment is another search term you can try.  With either result, Lisa Downing’s name will appear since this business was originally her own record label and now a combined talent agency doing business as Vision Quest Entertainment, representing over 1200 musicians in Colorado.

Now that we know Lisa Downing as a businesswoman, let me tell you about her busy career as composer, recording artists, and concert pianist.  Lisa performs in many concert venues including corporate and private events, along with conducting workshops and concerts with Liz Story and Joseph Akins, among many additional reputable artists.

Teaching piano along with her academic studies, Lisa attended the University of Colorado at Denver and Metropolitan State College to study music and piano performance.  Graduating with a degree in Traditional and Nontraditional Music with Keyboard Emphasis in 1982, her educational pursuits appear to be nicely balanced too.

A Delicate Balance is her 2010 Solo Piano, New Age, Neo Classical release, in an album title that is pretty well equal to her business and creative endeavors as a Solo Pianist.  What’s interesting about the inside cover of this CD is the special written diary about the thoughts behind each song’s composition which uniquely portrays Lisa’s intimate expressions during some rather personal moments in her life. 

I did enjoy reading her diary of songs while listening and preparing for this review of A Delicate Balance since it meticulously brought her personal recounting for each composition into the picture, giving her piano melodies a conclusively heartfelt and well spoken reflection.

Without giving away all of the diary secrets, many songs like The Gift, reflect a wonderful positive expression by the classical phrasing leading to the uplifting feel given by full register piano runs.  This song aligned in a moderate tempo made me think of the intrinsic treasures a gift giver feels and the unexpected joyful surprises a recipient receives.

The song Lost nicely portrays the first quiet moments in piano composition before well placed notes makes one realize that someone dear has lost their way, leading to deeper moments of pause and curiosity by her intonation.  After bolder dynamic chords suggest a winding road of lost hope, an upbeat conclusive ending happily points to a more familiar direction, ending with a more moderate calming tone of security.

Indecision is a faster moving piece where treble runs are shown like racing thoughts of indecisiveness, where lower register chords lean towards equal balance in an affirmative way, reflecting the decisive moments in life that are pretty much universal to everyone.

No Matter What I Do involves a special dedication and meaning to Lisa and does reflect this by quieter phrases giving way to pause, leading to a wider path, where positive chords suggest a new resolve in this scenario, ending in a more relaxed contemplation.   

Lisa’s prior albums Think On These Things is much like her current personal melodies with well timed moments of reflection, and her Holiday CD Christmas for Two are traditional holiday arrangements you will easily recognize and are easy to find CDs.

A Delicate Balance is a fine Solo Piano album with the personal Lisa Downing expressive touch.  Reading her song diary while listening to her latest musical gift about finding many delicate lines during the search for perfect balance is sure to please everyone, provided they take the time to search and then find this talented artist for themselves.

Visit this Vision Quest Entertainment artist at LisaDowning.com to sample / purchase or visit her CDBaby.com page here.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto – og-vision

Today’s computer enhanced technology is amazing, and when skillful composing is combined with live performers and instrumentals, the resulting musical outcome can become a creation of natural beauty.

Timothy Crane is an artist title using a creative touch with the music technology of today by composing piano music, then adding key instrumentals along with orchestra effects that become full structured works of music he and his close friends enjoy creating. 

Dragonfly is the second release where Timothy plays a leading role as pianist and co-producer of his second album, along with Jason Rowsell who also played bass and mixing.  Friends Rick Henly performs on guitar and percussion effects, while Ryan Day engineered and mixed the album.  Having one last credit I don’t want to miss, Jason Rowsell’s young daughter has a cameo role by quietly laughing on cue during the beginning of song, A Child’s Goodnight. 

The Other Life I Dream is the first album I enjoyed equally from this talented group.  When asking Timothy what was the primary objective on this current release, and what set Dragonfly apart from the first album.  Here is his reply :

With Dragonfly, my focus was more on composition.  Each piece reflects an attempt to craft an instrumental tune that is memorable, unique to the overall album, and noticeably piano-driven, produced by independent musicians who want nothing more than to continue to create and play music.     Timothy Crane

Dragonfly is where I discovered more natural forms of instrumentation become closely acquainted with an animated entity in 11 song classics.  A few songs carry the rhythmic tones that might remind some of a highly recognized female artist at first glance, but I soon found each song is composed with a singular structuring in each melody belonging in a modern New Age, Piano, Instrumental, Cinematic theme.

Dragonfly indeed takes flight with first song  2×2.  In a graceful piano based dance of the keys, a real beauty of a melody greatly captures your attention by the upper tempo modern rhythms.  Well placed staccato notes from strings carry this steady motion while wonderful orchestration carries the appropriate rhythms that lead to a natural form of musical attraction.

Sylvan Grove holds much of the same beauty by piano leading in an upbeat theme while horns and strings inscribe a smooth blend into another most positive melody.  Higher octave piano notes in Star Cross Moon are the first gentle indications of a nice correlation in melodic shades, and when numerous major to minor key changes make a full emotional presence felt during refrains, the result is gratifying.

A Child’s Goodnight is a playful theme that soon matures in a full chord and heartfelt movement, while Salish Sunset in again, a more moderate tempo, along with light recollections in piano phrasing, join with oboe to impart warm tones to the overall picture.

Theft in Eb Major is more of a classic thought in composition with major and minor chords extending vibrant hues while building momentum.  Woodwinds warm breezy notes blend with background choral vocals to instill a more celestial feel with this song.

Theme of Rachel Scott is another focal point where medium range keystrokes give way to lower chords feel of depth and richness, blending nicely with orchestration to become one beautiful entity.  Vasilissa the Beautiful entertains a most peaceful beginning only to be suddenly interrupted by an enthralling performance from piano, choir, and deep thunderous percussion, quickly taking flight as if suddenly startled from a comfortable resting place.

Title song Dragonfly is an impassioned piano solo signaling the finale of this lightly animated album, in a conclusion where I felt every colorful detail was closely examined while producing this incorporated album, becoming the right choice for many people desiring popular music creations having a natural attraction.

Visit timothycrane.com website to sample / purchase, or at his CDBaby.com page.

Picture Copyright Bigstockphoto – FOTOCROMO

The Piano as the leading musical instrument can be appreciated using just a few simple well placed notes.  It’s the pianist who takes the leading role by their note by note delivery to determine the style and complexity of the note structure in hopes of creating a classic piece of music everyone can appreciate.

Ann Sweeten is one musician widely recognized for her classic style, setting a high standard in quality among many pianists in the wide range of genres employing piano music as the chosen manner for pleasing an audience.  In a skilled full range delivery on a Steinway Baby Grand, her classic signature sound deserves respect in a natural way, lending itself to beautiful music that many have found, gives new meaning to the term music appreciation.

Just This Side Of Spring  showcases her latest composing lead performance as a Steinway Artist and music professional, with several talented artists at her side.  Will Ackerman for one, performs on acoustic guitar on the title song, along with co-producing the album with Ann, who also conducts vocals and synthesizers.  Andrew Eng on viola & violin, along with bass performer Michael Miksis, and Trisha Craig on Flute are the accompanying musicians featured on several songs contained on this album, who do excel in terms of fluidity as a collective unit.

Having authored a number of Piano Solo reviews in the New Age genre, I promptly identified an admirable level of richness and depth in tone I rarely hear in many comparative piano solo albums.  Stylish tonal qualities held in even the quietest patterns give complex sequences and a prolific feel of realism within every individual phrase.  I likewise concluded the classic instrumentals supporting Ann Sweeten on Just This Side Of Spring clearly strengthen this opulent quality, validating my initial first impression.

In addition to her recognition as a Steinway Artist & Composer, her achievements are numerous, including voting privileges in the National Recording Academy of Arts & Sciences, ASCAP Popular Award Recipient starting in 2002, and continuing every year up to 2009. 

The ZMR nominations and awards are just as numerous and her talents are not limited to music achievements and concert performances on piano.  Ann is also a professional actress, singer, and ballet dancer, realizing many achievements in her diverse life. 

Just This Side Of Spring is a thoughtful Piano Instrumental album that holds many elegant touches while leaning towards the classical side of life, while shown in a natural realistic way too, becoming a great follow up for her previous Piano Instrumental album Grey Sky and Bittersweet. 

I concluded that both Just This Side Of Spring & Grey Sky and Bittersweet make you feel a pleasant sense of comfort and enjoyment in a much desired way, given by a qualified pianist who delivers an admirable performance on a Steinway Baby Grand, in another new release of her music almost everyone can appreciate.

Visit annsweeten.com and sample / purchase here.  Ann’s discography can be found at most music outlets, on-line and specialty stores.  You can visit CD Baby.com here.

In the world of ambient music, soundscapes with a cold, icy atmosphere is a subgenre of its own. With albums like Tangerine Dream’s Phaedra (1974) or Erik Wollo’s The Polar Drones (2003) on your iPod, even the warmest day feels cold – albeit in a refreshing way. When listening to them you almost can’t believe that you aren’t freezing.

When I got Craig Skala’s new album, Tundra, I was almost certain that this was such an album. The cover photo by famous photographer Yuichi Takasaka also gave this impression. But I was wrong, very wrong – this was not an album filled with icy drones or melancholic ambiance of crackling ice – no, Tundra is a collection of positive, upbeat songs illustrating the majestic beauty of winter, when the sun is shining and everything around you is blanketed in snow.  

Craig Skala is from Toronto, and Tundra is his first major new age music project (but he has been involved in many other music projects – check out the artist’s homepage). He has studied both electronic music, jazz composition, and film scoring. The electric guitar is his main instrument, which anyone who listens to Tundra will understand. The album’s warm sound is largely due to positive guitar melodies – and, secondly, a catchy rhythm on all tracks (with real drums).

Here I must pause the music a bit and return to Yuichi Takasaka’s wonderful cover photo. You see, there is a small story here that deserves to be told. The day I received this album I had just been looking at the cover while sampling the songs – and then I opened the homepage of a local Norwegian newspaper – and lo and behold, there was almost the same image; a strange, blue shining cloud on a cold, black sky! What a coincidence, and I had to tell Craig about it right away (see my blog post about it here). I am unsure what caused the sky to look that way in Takasaka’s picture – but the Norwegian phenomenon was almost certainly caused by an out-Of-Control Russian Rocket, as reported on news channels all over the world. Such a view will turn even the tundra warm I guess… 

Tundra is a collection of positive, upbeat songs illustrating the majestic beauty of winter     

Well, back to the album! The first song on Tundra is called Winter. It is a very welcoming first track, greeting you like a friend’s smile. The nice guitar riffs, layers of synth pads, hihats and percussion, plus a heavy reverb, all in all create a very nice atmosphere.

The main tracks on the album are Moon and Aurora. The slow guitar opening on Moon is breathtakingly beautiful while the flute part on Aurora is very creative.

Another track that has a truly interesting sound is the title track – where a female voice “sings” almost like the caveman on Tubular Bells… I personally like it very much, but the radio host in me says no, no, no, this will upset the listeners. It is a cool track though, and the short Tundra prelude is the only really icy sounding track on the album (so if you bought the album because you though it was like Tangerine Dream’s Phaedra, you at least got one cold sounding track…).   

All in all I think that Tundra gives the listener something very close to a complete listening experience. The album is simply put excellent sound design, and the mixing is very well done.  I was not surprised when I heard that Craig Skala also has been into visual arts and painting – on Tundra he has filled the audio canvas with colors and expression, giving a cold world a bright, warm light.

Tundra truly is a work of art.

Below you can sample the song Moon. Also do visit Craig Skala’s homepage, where you can sample all the tracks.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto – outdoorsman

NewAgeMusic.nu host a recent Artist Interview with John Adorney to reveal insight about a world class performing music therapist, whose beautiful relaxing compositions could easily be termed Comfort Music.

John Adorney began with the  Beckoning  album, becoming an instant hit with New Age fans, likewise acquiring many listeners who simply adore the Contemporary Instrumental genre in the process. 

The Other Shore, Waiting For The Moon, & Trees of Gold  are his preceding albums that dispense the beloved classics we easily recognize from his relaxed musical signature.

The Fountain  is the newest release to showcase his reliable artistry in blending Electronic, Contemporary Instrumental and World music  while quenching the thirst for a wide variety of music lovers who depend on flowing song melodies for survival.

John Adorney wrote and produced the  11  songs for this album,  along with instrumentation of piano, keyboard, acoustic guitar, cello, and percussion.  Inclusive enrichment by female vocalist Daya Rawat, and African vocalist Marcel Adjibi, who wrote the lyrics, pleasantly enhance the project on a number of songs with their fluid harmonious voices.

The Fountain album takes an exploratory examination into music having an elemental influence from India and in the process, recreates the beloved John Adorney signature sound.  This mosaic showing the ancient footprint of India is an aesthetic treasure openly embraced by Western listeners, along with his broad multicultural audience.

The steady stream of rich colorful songs everyone has come to expect starts with  Safe Haven,  securing his uplifting brand of Contemporary, Electronic, and Instrumental fanfare with an ideal beginning.  The piano melody shines radiantly by administering a comforting theme in classic style while prescribing symphonic intermezzos along with lighter percussion and their clave counterparts.

Title song  The Fountain  is filled with the exotic touches of India, in an authentic sprinkle of spices that nicely compliments the mainstream Eastern entries.  Daya softly chants an Indian passage in the song as ethnic instrumentals accompany her, along with more traditional piano and acoustic guitar rhythms.

Comme Le Vent  is immersed with opulent vocals by both Marcel and Daya,  extending their reflections by a melody that seems to glow when placed alongside peaceful piano support to display all musicians as radiant.

Feather on the Wind  is a light picturesque blend of piano and symphonic instrumentals encircled by warm cello splashes of color.  Abundant percussion rhythms in  Echoes of Thunder  enhance an illuminating mid tempo groove melody, while  Even In Your Darkest Hour  hallmarks Daya singing a soft eloquent song of peace, comfort, and hope. 

The lyrics are cradled by lighter percussion and an array of symphonic refrains to endorse her all is well message.  An Ocean in the Drop  has percussion play a steady role during counter beat piano melodies classic tours up and down the keys. 

Silk and Stone  will become a favorite by the unique mosaic of multicultural sound excursions that transport you on a passport tour to many continents around the globe.  Your flight takes off with American hand clapping and bass drum rhythms before crossing the border into Latin countries percussion clave patterns.  Smoothly landing with an intriguing European groove feel and enchanting accordion entries pleasantly remind of our restful stop for coffee at the outdoor cafe.

If I were given the chance to create a trademark defining term for a new music genre that everyone could easily recognize for a new description reference, I would confidently term the compositions of John Adorney as Comfort Music.

The itinerary then moves into Middle Eastern style keyboard navigation before boarding acoustic guitar verses reminiscent of India.  Circling the globe by Southern route, Brazilian tempo celebrates the festivities before a final touchdown into John Adorney’s home country of America, arriving well relaxed by one of his more adventurous musical arrangements, in the luxurious comfort we have come to expect. 

Visit  johnadorney.com  here to sample The Fountain and Amazon.com to purchase here.  You can read our recent NewAgeMusic.nu Interview by clicking here.

Picture copyright BigStockPhoto.com – WizData

If you are one in the multitude of dreamers with an ambitious goal in mind, permit me to tell you about one musician’s personal story for reaching goals since she is very much a trusted source of inspiration for those who already know and listen to her music.

Vicki Logan first began without formal music lessons, having only a dream of becoming an accomplished musician someday. Her spirited philosophy of believing in yourself, boldly taking the risks, and then dreaming big since anything is possible, has proved to be more than just a mere statement about turning dreams into reality.

Vicki is now an outstanding musician taking her own advice for years by creating a heartfelt  4  album portfolio where each album title and theme chronicles the subsequent chapters of her achievements along the way.  Chasing Dreams began the first stage for her success and easily set a high watermark for future albums of  Finding My Way, The Ride, & The Journey To the Places In My Soul, along with a much anticipated album now in progress.

Chasing Dreams reached nomination for Album of the Year in regional music charts, then her subsequent albums were established in NAR / ZMR Top  100  charts and abundant online radio airplay on AOL, Sirius Radio, and XM Satellite, grew to reach around  1000  station worldwide.  Writing the original music along with playing piano, strings and flute, Vicki enlists several exceptional musicians with co-producer Randy Gildersleeve on acoustic guitar, banjo & mandolin, Andy LaCasse on bass & electric guitar, and Peter O’Gorman as percussionist.

Change is the only true constant in life.  Instead of fighting it, we should always look for the advantages to change, and then use them to our benefit.  In the end, dreams are only dreams unless you are willing to make them a reality.

Vicki Logan

Chasing Dreams is a  10  song classic storybook of concertos, with chapter one titled as  The Only Way To Say Goodbye. This first song reveals feelings of hope for those who have lost a loved one by a moving piano piece that marks the first song notation as a memorable one.  Respectful by turning each page with a soft finger to key touch, drama crescendos with every step until an emotional full chord melody is expressed, reaching a finale that I can only describe as heartfelt and poetic. The  Reprise version offers another impression and moving portrayal of this exquisite melody.

An Epoch Of Childhood represents growing to adulthood by a wonderful piano opus enhanced with guitar entries and percussion, reaffirming the positive vibes one feels from her entire album collection. Highway  8  From Minnesota To Michigan is a piano and woodwind ballad that navigates at a mid tempo pace with flute passages describing the event as one of amazement, becoming one of your narrator’s favorites.  Beautiful by the emotion rich drama, this song is composed to stay in your mind and I do find myself recalling it often.

Title song  Chasing Dreams is another beautiful piece to bookmark.  Soft wind chimes herald in a thoughtful piano and guitar duo that unite in refined stages until the deepest emotions emerge.

The classic artistry in chord phrasing is pleasing not only to the ear, but to the heart and mind, having a wonderful rhythm that conveys only positive sentiments.  The  Reprise version gives another chance to hear this pleasing song in the same key, yet in a slightly faster tempo defined by synthesizer background that sheds light on this new perspective and classically displays her artistic originality.

The Hopper Song is a lively number that showcases the skills of all musicians starting with an upbeat percussion that leaps into expressive piano chords, while mandolin and banjo strum their engaging scripts with confidence.  This song reminded me that writing songs to inspire people is what Vicki Logan’s music is all about, bringing a smile to my face as I picture the multitudes of optimistic dreamers out there also becoming a success, in their own personal storybook of dreams.

Vicki’s story of inspiration can be read at  vickilogan.com  by clicking here.  Visit her MySpace page to sample her music and find where to purchase albums here.  Our pages dedicated to Vicki Logan have reviews for all of her albums, along with our recent Artist Interview, so discover even more about Vicki right here.

Picture Copyright Bigstockphoto.com – trebeb

Some of the artists we write about find their inspiration by discovering the scenic wonders here on Earth.  Natural compositions having both peaceful and majestic themes recalled from an individual and local perspective can be very inspirational indeed.

Ontario Canada is the geographical location of a New Age artist title bringing a beautiful listening experience to a worldwide audience.  Showing a fine music observation of the abundant natural beauty that surrounds everyone each day, here is a nice album where time was given and attention was paid while orchestrating their scenic recollections.

Bruce Mitchell is a composing musician blessed with a natural talent for bringing out the best of what mother Earth has to offer with the just released New Earth Goddess album on the Millennium Label.  His music compositions have a great distinction of being the feature TV soundtracks for Nature Watch & The Global Family in Japan’s multi language International Public Broadcast program ( NHK ) becoming a prime time success in Europe, among other countries.

Bruce first began with albums  Hidden Pathways, Dancing on the Edge, and The Gathering,  relying on rich orchestra movements to translate his natural music abilities.  Celtic Destiny & Celtic Sanctity  are also consistent with his prior work and shown with just a touch of Celtic influence and now leads to his current release.

New Earth Goddess  is a  10  song exploration into the hearts and minds of ten charitable goddesses who provide a ( song subtitle ) depicting the gift endowment held within each individual song.  Bruce once again engages his friend and world class flutist Ron Korb, who likewise solidifies the project playing concert flute, bass flute, and  2  exotic bamboo woodwinds Dizi & Bansuri, with both having ancient origins.

New Earth Goddess by composer Bruce Mitchell and co-musician Ron Korb represent skillful craftsmanship in composition and piano skills of one, plus equally strong woodwind skills of another.  Their performance gives a dramatic looking through the lens glimpse into the naturalistic side of music by powerful symphonic expression, choir entries, and harmony rich vocals.

Flowing song  Athena  grants ( inner wisdom )  by the brass horns that open eyes, ears, and minds to a mid tempo classic presentation of piano and flute melody backed by an orchestra landscape full of strings and winds that exhibit nature as pure scenic ambiance. 

The display of lighter airy moments at times nicely build into full thunderous entries, symbolic that smaller streams do trickle into larger rivers, which then flow with increasing momentum until reaching the greater oceans.

Persephone  vocalizes a moderate pace in ( transformation ) where changing North to South seasonal winds are recalled by moving harmonic vocals,  while gentle peaceful winds are heard by flute and piano duo, whispering in timely unison with the lighter vocals. Brigit  implies a more noble statement in ( stand for your beliefs ) with deeper percussion and melodic piano passages alongside bagpipes, oboe, and woodwinds, while  Aeracura  opens with a much quieter beginning to ( unfold & blossom ) considering the melody soon orchestrates in a dramatic ascension, opening right along in time with fragrant vocals.

Damara  suggests a gentler mindset for ( guiding children )  by lighter tone in flute melody set behind piano chords and soft xylophone runs, implying a gentler hand is always wisest when caring for the younger ones.

Maeve  ( cycles and rhythms ) in an Epic way when piano and flute take on a dramatic performance with one another, creating a natural ebb and flow between the two musicians, leading to the conclusion that Bruce and Ron have succeeded by becoming a constant and enduring source of inspiration while performing their music, much like the Earth itself.

Visit newearthgoddess.net here and sample this album at CDBaby.com here.  Visit the flute specialist ronkorb.com here.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto.com – PosterPuppy

I’m a big fan of new age music titles that are somehow connected to water. Island music is a sub genre of its own, and so is also the case with the deep water genre. The most prominent titles are Terry Oldfield’s De Profundis: Out of the Depths and the recent mega selling Relax: A Liquid Mind Experience by Liquid Mind. But now I have found a new album to add to the very top of the deep water genre list: Light Returning by Acoustic Ocean.

What makes Light Returning different from most albums in this sub genre is its remarkable, yes almost incredible, warmth. While most artists in this genre concentrate on presenting the atmosphere of the deepest water, like hovering on the ocean floor (which, in many cases is a great thing, I’m especially thinking about the above mentioned Out Of The Depths), but Light Returning is a voyage exclusively in the warmer waters above. The sound is gentle, positive and laidback.

When I put on Light Returning for the first time I was very surprised to hear a hissing/static background noise, like from a live recording, which is rare to hear today when all music is heavily sequenced and mixed in a sterile environment. But Light Returning is largely an acoustic recording, hence the artist name. It makes me think of Ancient Future’s music and Mike Oldfield’s Incantations or QE2. The Celtic Harp can be heard on all tracks, which sounds heavenly underwater. The piano and guitar melodies are also top notch.

Acoustic Ocean gives this user guide to Light Returning:

Listen in the morning to set a relaxing, meditative tone for your day.

Use it during the day in your car or at the office to reduce stress.

Listen at the end of your day to help you to unwind or fall asleep.

Use it during yoga practice to help you quiet your mind and go deeper.

Use it during massage to relax and let go.

So yes, it is truly a multi purpose album.

All in all I’m very impressed by Light Returning. I absolutely love the album for its positivity and lightness; it is the carefree attitude makes Light Returning into a true winner for this reviewer.

And the ocean theme is, as always, awesome.

To quote Jules Verne in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea:

The sea is everything. It covers seven tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides.

Sample the album on CDBaby. Also be sure to check out Acoustic Ocean’s homepage.

Recently we announced an Artist Interview with music celebrity Mars Lasar here at newagemusic.nu.  Let’s explore one of his albums with a Jazz influence that sets the stage for a memorable music experience.

This revered man of many talents has touched the lives of millions of people while showcasing his innovative abilities during his lengthy career as a professional musician, along with his music related artistic endeavors.

Mars Lasar has a diverse discography ranging from New Age, Electronic, Contemporary Instrumental, World, Jazz, Ambient, Chill Out, Classical, and a host of sub genres that have yet to be classified.

At The End Of The Day creates a wonderful example since Classic Jazz is introduced to New Age in a manner that I felt lends itself to a high society level of sophistication, yet also in an easy going approachable manner that gave me a relaxing right at home, wearing blue jeans comfortable feel too.

My previous statement should give you some insight about what is in store for you, and how effective this man is with creating lasting beauty from contrasting images, yet there is so much more to discover from this album, plus the full scope of his vast discography.

Mars Lasar layers his mixing production talents to full advantage on every song in this Contemporary Jazzy  10  track album that highlights his artistic abilities in a just right, toast of the town in house feel.  His fans will adore this release, being such a strong example of what they love, recognize, and have come to expect from Mars.  Here we find soulful saxophone driven melodies, considerately subdued from completely stealing the show while keyboard, flute, and guitar melodies prove themselves just as capable while taking a turn in the solo spotlight.  The song Uptown is a favorite among his fans who already own the album.  Perhaps they recognise this fine example since  fusion between old school Jazz and Contemporary Jazz are intertwined to reach a thoughtful commingling of the two styles.

Mars Lasar has an enduring ability to captivate an audience with his music by personal adaptability, mindful at using technical leverage, while also generating a creative spark of imagination.  I believe these skills, plus his strive for perfection is how Mars can offer a higher level of versatility simply not present with many artists within many genres.

The song Warm Nights is a mid tempo, Jazz festival of fun, where guitar and percussion first set an atmosphere like a playful night in a downtown club.  Just like being there, an illustrated solo saxophone player sharp and colorfully dressed, plays a warmly lit tune that contrasts well with the darker shades presented during the first few measures in tonal background images.

Our first observations of the atmospheric intensity of the music is noted by the upward raised saxophone and soulful eyes closed expression made during the opening woodwind solo.  Everyone can clearly see the seated piano player is all smiles while making their keyboard runs in distinct counter beat with saxophone while upper octave piano notes twinkle in unison, exactly as our solo performers glance at one another to give a quick nod and wink of approval.

Come And Join Us is a nicely done Jazz mix with an inviting tone that keeps the momentum going in a positive upbeat direction. 

When the bass cello player starts this in house session with a resonating pluck of the strings and then several spins of the cello, the rhythm is set by the warmer tones and expertly delivered bass runs that capture the crowd’s approval right from the beginning.

Joining in the session, piano and flute quickly step forward to contribute their fragrant ambiance by taking turns during moments of improvisation while the crowd waves their raised hands back and forth to the beat.  Everyone moves closer to the stage as our saxophone player once again steps into the spotlight with a dramatic solo while flute makes note filled runs, then several trills during each refrain as percussion places their cymbal taps and well timed snare beats with exacting precision.

We notice every instrument sparkles brightly under the lighting while all players make their runs through the scales in this album having an uptown beat, capturing the moment and memories for the entire evening in the final closing notes.  Then, as everyone slowly starts to leave and the band begins to pack, it is pretty clear the audience was captivated by the sights, sounds, and sensations, after just having heard this album produced by Mars Lasar that mirrors the very ultimate in the downtown Jazz experience. 

Visit marslasar.com by clicking here and sample at Amazon by clicking here.

Let me introduce the other players who performed on this studio produced album on the Sound Manipulations label.  Let’s give a big round of applause for Mars Lasar’s wife Cadence Spalding who provided some vocals and Nicholas Gunn who played flute.  The guitarists include Winslow Crockwell, Jeff Burak and Carlos Villalobos.  Greg Vail played the saxophone and flute.  This is a listing of the artists homepage :  Visit cadencespalding.com here, nicholasgunn.com here, carlosvillalobos.com here, and gregvail.com here.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto – mhurwich

Starting from early childhood, this New Age artist from Southern California has always had the ambition to pursue music as a career.  Beginning piano at age  14  she first began composing music on her own after discovering music greats like the Beatles, Herb Alpert, and John Williams.  By having these three great artist influences with such a varied range in sound, you are probably starting to wonder just who this person is and what her music sounds like when integrating these three great music influences into one hybrid entity. 

Let me introduce Kori Linae Carothers to everyone.  Those familiar with Kori know her early compositions began without formal music lessons.  After doing quite well, she continued on with Classical music at the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music where her future as a concert pianist looked promising and the rest of her story is history as they say.

Taking time off to first raise a family, her desire to produce music returned while attending a Yanni concert, and after helpful encouragement from her husband, her first album The Road Less Traveled and second album The Journey became a reality.

Trillium is the third and latest release in this music trilogy.  The entire album holds a wide array of New Age, Contemporary piano, Acoustic Instrumental, and Ambient touches in a well thought out arrangement, giving a multiple angle approach that fits together remarkably well.

Trillium is a collection of music, inspired by the power of three.  The music on this album is a continuation of expressions of my thought, about experiences in my life inspired by friendships, hopes, and dreams.    

Kori Linae Carothers

Kori Linae Carothers performs much of the melody by playing classic piano, Native American flute, light vocals and synthesizer on this project, along with some beautiful orchestration throughout, giving the complete project a classical embrace.  There is also a number of gifted musicians playing guitar, cello, violin, dulcimer, and flugel horn, along with the percussion enhancements, creating a great amount of depth and beauty by the talented professionals playing beside her.

The album production was also placed in the skillful hands of Grammy Award winning Will Ackerman at his Imaginary Road Studios, giving the final product that extra touch for which he is famous.

Trillium is also one genus of around  50  species of flowering plant in the Lily family.  This flowering plant is another example of the great gifts that come in threes since this species has a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, all with a  3  leaf distinction.

Crystal Fields is just one of the eleven colorful song varieties among the full bouquet from the Trillium album.  Once you discover the many beautiful choices available, I really wouldn’t be surprised if you pick the whole bouquet as your personal favorites.

Crystal Fields is one particular song that starts out in a well defined melancholy tone, beginning the mid tempo piece with a deep flowing piano movement that boldly takes the initiative by planting the first seeds of hope, setting a full range of emotion from each carefully considered note.  The soft and delicate melody of lighter piano notes are a result from pressing the instrument’s three foot pedals based at ground level, dampening both the piano tone and your eyes at the same time.

The distant flugal horn melody soon grows and is then generously dispersed by applying extended brass notes having a light vibrato, enhancing the tonal warmth and harmony purely by implementing the three valves of this brass instrument known for warm tonal sounds.

The bass cello is the third instrument to tug at your heart strings by rising to the surface in a characteristic movement of feeling.  This final considerate thought for depth, richness, and ambiance connects the trio of orchestra instruments together in a classic moment of splendor and clarity, arriving at our fruitful conclusion of one picturesque song variety from the many in full bloom.

From the  11  colorful songs on the Trillium album, I picked only the white one.  Pick the full bouquet of flowers at koritunes.com here, then sample at CD Baby.com here.

Vicki Logan has a history of composing and producing outstanding New Age music from the very beginning of her music career.

Her second album titled Finding My Way on her Carvic label achieved a top 100 album rating, airing on over 700 online radio stations worldwide. The song Enchanted Winds did arrive at a top # 1 song in AOL Radio for an astounding 21 weeks, reaching the final destination in ratings.

By incorporating elements of New Age, Classical, Pop, Jazz, Contemporary Instrumental, plus a divine gift of creativity, Finding My Way, along with her entire discography does set a high standard for her future projects.

Charting a course as a new musician has never been easy for any artist and by no fault of her own, Vicki has had her share of unforeseen detours and roadblocks along the way, but her professional drive and spirited ambition has led the way to increasing popularity and recognition along her adventurous journey.

Before the compass was invented, a navigator used visual landmarks, celestial bodies, and maps to chart a course.  Today’s Global Positioning System receivers obtain 3 dimensional calculations from a known spatial positioning of at least 4 satellites to make finding your final destination much easier.

Finding My Way is the title Vicki chose for this album since it describes a representation or timeline of where Vicki felt she was in relation to her music career. With that said, her timeless New Age classics have found their way to many people’s hearts and minds with the winning combination of solo performances of piano, flute, saxophone, and guitar along side synthesized representations.

The song Pegasus reveals the exhilarating flight of a mythological horse free, unbridled, and floating weightless during the ride of a lifetime of chasing dreams, gently leaving a trail of puffy white clouds in it’s wake. The bass percussion sprints ahead in tempo while piano melody vigorously runs through the scales in an inspirational message about undaunted courage.  When Xylophone makes an impromptu entrance into the scene, it becomes pretty clear by the lively solo response that this winged horse desires freedom most, having made all the right moves to evade capture by any mere mortal.

My Mother’s Memories is a symbolic song tribute one can easily compare to a mother’s loving embrace. This hymn of love is shown through a classic piano movement complete with angelic choir vocals that emphasize the content of her character and humanity, clearly stated by the pronounced reverent atmosphere.

The emotional tale of a mother’s lifetime of memories is passionately recalled from one family generation to the next by a heart felt piano narration, where her praiseworthy commitment of giving becomes apparent while recalling the eventful past.  Then, almost as if waiting in respectful attention for the proper moment to arrive, something truly amazing happens.

In a heart felt solo performance, an all encompassing trumpet respectfully announces Mother’s grand entrance onto the world stage in a proud anthem, as if honoring all deserving Mothers with a standing ovation of praise. While all rise to the occasion during this profound moment of tribute and recognition, the choir validates through their own voice the unconditional love and support all caring Mothers around the world have given during their lifetime.

Discovering the positive and inspiring music of Vicki Logan and then writing about this New Age artist who is so passionate about their music has been personally rewarding. Having the opportunity to meet this friendly and outgoing musician by our recent Interview has been an honor.

You can read my reviews of her 2 latest albums and our recent Interview together by clicking here.  Then make finding your way to her website and music outlets your next destination: vickilogan.com

You can sample this album on CDBaby.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto – Xmasbaby

Jaya Lakshmi’s new album is entitled Radiance. The album offers Spanish guitar, Celtic Flute and Jaya Lakshmi ’s wonderful vocal. The rhythm is slow and meditative, while the synths create a soundscape that is truly relaxing.

Radience is produced by Steve Gordon, and features Deva Priyo on nylon string guitar and sarod, Vince McClellan on flutes, Nisha Calkins-Godfrey on cello.

Fans will find that Radience is a bit quieter and more serene than Jaya Lakshmi ’s previous albums. Her singing still has that larger-than-life quality, completely without cultural borders; this music is a much Indian as it is Celtic.

The album start with the title track, which is a great introduction to Lakshmi’s new style. This is positive mantra music. My favorite track on the album is no. 8, Jai Ambe. It has some very nice flute parts and a melody that is almost hypnotic. All the tracks on the album are long, from 6 to 10 minutes – and the album is over an hour long.

Radiance album creates a soothing mood that is perfect for yoga, meditation and relaxing. It is a colorful album indeed. That is what I call radiance.

Sample the album the Sequoia Record’s homepage. It is available on most digital music outlets.

British born Mike Howe is a park ranger by day and a new age music guitarist by night. So far his guitar has been heard on two albums, Journey to Wellness and Contentment, in the Sacred Spa Music Series. On July 21st his debut album will be released on the Real Music Label.

The label give this description of the album:

Like a child’s favorite toy or a warm summer’s stroll, unadorned, gentle guitar songs bring a comfort that nurtures the soul. Inspired by the nature of the Welsh national park where Mike Howe lives and works as an ecologist. His gorgeous first album offers fifteen original compositions that will be a welcome pause in any day… a respite when time truly stands still.

And more:

Mike Howe has come to music creativity relatively late in life. With no formal musical training and no background in the industry, this sudden outpouring of musical compositions has come as bit of a surprise.

The cover looks like this:

We all sometimes need a time out, a place where time stands still. So yes, this debut album is more than welcome!

There is a thin line between different music genres. In new age music the line is almost impossible to define, since the genre by definition is a fusion between almost everything – from classical, world and folk, via jazz, rock and pop, to electronica and techno. The album Sintra by Rui Serodio, released on the Strauss label, is well defined within the new age music border, with its larger-than-life atmosphere and a minimalistic keyboard sound. Still Sintra illustrates to perfection the new age music fusion mentioned above. The album is classical music redefined by synths, brought to life by master pianist Rui Serodio. Prepare yourself for the splendid sound of Sintra!

There is one thing I have to mention right away, since I think I will not dare to say it later on; Sintra is not available anymore. It is out of print and the label behind it is closed down. But rest assure, you can still get the songs from it FOR FREE as mp3-files by contacting Rui Serodi directly on email address: info <at> ruiserodio.com. Just send him an email, and he will send you the songs. Trust me, this is by far the best offer you’ll get all day. But if you’re not still convinced, keep reading.

The first song on the album, Shepherd’s Dawn, is a great introduction to the album’s style. It is quite simply wonderful keyboard music. The synth harmonica would probably been better played live, but that is not a problem when the melodies are so complex and interesting. You can sense that this is an artist with many years experience of playing and composing. I must mention that this album was recorded 10 years ago, and not by using the latest synth technology. Still it is a wonderful album, a true treat. for everyone that loves the good old analogue keyboard sound.

Water Runs Through Leaves is a cool lounge song with a gentle, almost inaudible rhythm. It is very happy, and it makes you feel like dancing. Here I must mention that all songs on the album are long, between 5 and 10 minutes long, so you really get a feeling for the melodies (but there is no monotony, all songs have a nice build-up).

The most dramatic song on the album is Two Voices, One People. It has a nice medieval feeling, with flute sections, and you can almost see the knights riding off to war.

Sintra illustrates to perfection the new age music fusion. The album is classical music redefined by synths, brought to life by master pianist Rui Serodio.

My favorite song on the album is the 9 minutes long Where Life Was Born Again. The female vocal sounds divine, and the piano and strings are breathtaking. When it is done, you feel like you’re reborn.

The last song on the album, Memories kept by the Stone, gives, the listener a true feeling of Rui Serodi impressive skills as a pianist. The piano sounds alive and playful. It is so great, in this time of sequencers, to know that the composer actually is able to play this piece live.

Sintra is in all respects a new age music recording, with its atmosphere and harmonies. Together with the classical influences and the keyboardish approach make it into a truly remarkable recording. Sintra is both fresh and powerful, laidback and bold – all at the same time. It is an album this reviewer feels proud to own.

Be sure to check out RuiSerodio.com

Terri Liles Mason is the creative spirit behind the music that involves a focus on honoring and celebrating the universal principal side of positive feminine life and mother earth. 

Teaching in workshops devoted to inner peace and harmony from her home in Connecticut, her expertise and knowledge in this subject is only reinforced from her educational background.  Everything now becomes one, when devoting her expertise and knowledge as a teacher, into positive influential music as composer and performer on her debut album.

Om Gaia is her first release reflecting her perspective focus in expressing oneself in a positive manner to increase self image through music.

Terri’s music is creating quite a sensation internationally, having performed before a large audience in the recent Earth Day opening in New York City’s Grand Central Station, where she introduced herself and the Om Gaia album.  Another reason for her to celebrate is the over 120 online radio stations playing her music around the world, a # 4 spot on the World Radio Top 100 chart, and 3 songs retaining the # 1 Top New Age songs with Indie Music charts for 12 weeks.  The 3 songs holding that position are title song Om Gaia, Begin Again, and Eleyakeha’s Lullaby.

Om Gaia is her first release, reflecting her perspective focus in expressing oneself in a positive manner to increase self image through music.

The title song Om Gaia is a positive blend of mid tempo instrumental rhythms that are surrounded by Terri’s beautiful vocals, sung with an apparent soft and sensual touch.  Mother earth is celebrated by inspiring thought filled lyrics, announced to all by her beautifully deep and rich blending of vocals, instilling thoughts of an ancient realm in our distant past that transforms into the present. 

Begin Again is an upbeat song with a pleasant mix of vocals, while Eleyakeha’s Lullaby is a slower paced celestial song featuring Terri’s soft vocals that seem to lull you into a contented frame of mind sure to please anyone.

Looking toward the future, this female New Age artist has accomplished much in transforming her teaching skills of obtaining positive vibes into a vibrant musical journey that she has just offered the music world.  I expect we will hear more from Terri.

The website to visit is omgaiamusic.com The album is available on CDBaby, Amazon or iTunes.

I find it very inspiring that so many musicians have discovered the New Age genre as a medium to express their musical diversity.  New Age music is fast becoming ever more popular every day, compelling by offering musicians a unique category to display their music wares in a sub genre format.

Paul Jensen is one artist who divulges into the Contemporary Folk category style of Easy Listening.  His thoughtful lyric verses are pleasing to the ear and are perfect for times of contemplation, placing oneself in a relaxing carefree mood, or for pure enjoyment.

The Other Side album from 2008 on the Juan Carlos Production label that debuted at #4 on NAR’s music charts is a great choice indeed.  It is just right for those times set aside to self indulge in relaxing time spent alone, with a loved one, or with close friends and family who also appreciate the lighter side of Easy Listening pleasures.

Paul discovered an inspiration from the natural wonders of the earth and is apparent that it greatly influences his personal style of singing and songwriting.  Much of the creativity behind his work is drawn from adventurous time spent in the Colorado National Monument in the U.S.  This scenic National Park has land set aside for everyone to discover the natural wonders through hiking, horseback, and by adventure filled wilderness trails.  This opportunity gives people like Paul a chance to explore and grasp the sought after inspiration required for delivering his compelling Contemporary Instrumental Folk music.

Paul discovered inspiration from the natural wonders of the earth and it greatly influences his personal style of singing and songwriting.

Contributing artists furnish their own professional skills, including Grammy Award winning Will Ackerman, who lends a hand playing guitar, and his accomplished touch in producing this back to nature inspired album.

The 12 songs do emphasize much of what there is to explore in the vast wilderness full of wildlife and natural beauty, validating a more contemplative approach to music that I found apparent in his pioneer style.  Besides the beautiful vocals, guitars provide much of the richness, plus additional distinction is added by the warm characteristics of orchestra instruments.  The cultured sounds of horn, cello, violin, piano and mandolin, diversity into a classic touch that strengthens the harmonious beauty of music in relation to our earth’s natural wonders, both of which are waiting for you to discover.

If you are ready to visit the great outdoors through music, visit Paul’s easygoing music label website juancarlosproductions.com

Once again we shine the spotlight on the time tested music of Vicki Logan, who has recently revealed her thoughts and artistic perceptions by our recent interview here at NewAgeMusic.nu.  If you click on my name to read my personal page, you will find that The Ride is listed second of my all time favorite albums.  I hope this will encourage you to listen what this gifted artist is offering the world of New Age music.
 
Vicki Logan presently has 4 impressive albums available to date, with The Ride as the third successful release on her Carvic Publishing label from 2004, winning a place in the New Age Reporter’s Top 100 albums chart.  Personally drawn from her self conclusions about the ride everyone must travel during our day to day life experiences, this album has also held positions in some additional top 100 charts and granted impressive online radio airplay attention worldwide.
 
The Ride is considered inspirational and emotional by recalling the exhilarating roller coaster like moments in life, to times of eminent cross road decisions where one must faithfully reach out for everything life has to offer, or risk losing an opportunity if we choose to remain in the much safer realm of not ever taking a chance at all.  There is also a calming and relaxed atmosphere to her music as if acknowledging contentment in knowing that we have tried and are justly rewarded for having done our personal best.  This comparison is the easiest way to describe how this album makes me feel. 

Vicki’s own description is related to the passage of time and how she has experienced progress while composing and producing music, so everyone if free to draw their own self conclusions about how this album makes them feel on a personal level, but believe me, you will feel something positive from her music.

Incorporating elements of New Age pop, jazz, and R & B influences provides the listener a fresh perspective beginning with a classic piano piece.

The Ride is primarily mid tempo instrumental throughout, enhanced by individual solo performances of saxophone, piano, guitar, and the wondrous flute which Vicki plays passionately.  Incorporating elements of New Age pop, jazz, and R & B influences provides the listener a fresh perspective beginning with a classic piano piece.  Track 1 The Dance of the Sun has a heartfelt piano melody with background synthesizer starting a new beginning of an adventure into your earliest observations of what to anticipate further down this musical journey. 

Track 5 Just to be With You offers a harmonious rhythmic ballad that intertwines electronic and saxophone solo into a singular peaceful existence upon adding the engaging percussion beat for blending everything together dramatically.  Track 6 The Ride  is one of many favorites being New Age pop in theme.  This memorable up tempo song with heart pounding rhythms, unbounded keyboard rides, and perfectly timed percussion is truly something to behold on it’s own.  Then upon adding the flowing flute melody, everything fits together so perfectly in the instrumental arrangement, you will soon find yourself recalling the melody over and over in your mind daily. 

Track 8 Finding Freedom is a thought provoking song from this spirited American artist, having deep rhythms, driving percussion, and building flute repertoire which inspire and restore your faith in the very notion of individual freedoms in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as if saying, yes we can !
 
This album is an excellent example of what can be achieved when a talented artist shares a part of themselves by putting their heart and spirit into the creation of their music, offering New Age music lovers a chance to also feel something truly special along the way.

… you will soon find yourself recalling the melody over and over in your mind daily.

Reach out for what this artist is offering you by going to vickilogan.com or Her Myspace page. You can sample the album on CDBaby.

Be also sure to check out our interview with the artist.