The Dancing Pianist
Arturo Mayorga does not literally dance while playing piano, but if he were to attempt this feat, I am certain it would be as graceful and dignified of what was apparent in his first album Cascades, in the New Age Classic piano category.
In addition to his talents as a composing musician, Arturo is nationally ranked in the competitive sport of Ballroom dancing, where Waltz, Tango, and Swing are scrutinized before watchful judges who watch for the accepted criteria of a dancing couple locked hand in hand.
Now with a concert piano as his partner, Cascades embraces the identical movements found in classical dance by having a choreography timed with proper speed, motion, and balance.
While judging this debut album for myself, I became aware that the 10 songs of varying moods left me feeling they were a personal revelation of his emotional thoughts put to music.
Like so many musicians, a parent’s considerate gift of a musical instrument at an early age is what began his interest in music. Arturo states that it was at this early age that he realized the impact of what one person playing an instrument could have on another. Continuing music through high school then college, his studies were in math and science, but composing music was also on his mind, starting the framework songs for the Cascades album during this time period.
Starting in the first song position is Sunrise. This mid tempo piano and violin duet sets the standard for a graceful heartfelt ballet, where each timed movement is balanced by the piano melody considering violin takes a second seat by following the lead. There is much emotional content felt, since a melancholy feel is present, lending to a touch of sadness, yet adding character and definition, leaving a beautiful image of what you have just heard in your mind.
While judging this debut album for myself, I became aware that the 10 songs of varying moods left me feeling they were a personal revelation of his emotional thoughts put to music.
The Last Night of Winter aligns well with the piano’s duo partner in allowing violin to take the lead in portion of the melody during this faster paced song, where full 360 degree rotational dance pivots, and those brief stationary pauses always see during pivot turns, can be pictured in your mind if you try.
The title song Cascades is a true champion in freestyle, where a faster tempo piano promenades with every rise and fall in piano key note steps, reaching the full height in posture, rhythm, and speed. Violin then connects with the melody posturing in a more formal manner while piano strokes sweep along the keyboard at a dizzying pace. The positive upbeat piano movements seem to sweep you off your feet at critical moments, leaving you breathless at the finish.
Arturo is very successful by engraving a full range of emotional content and movement into his classic orchestra style music. Knowing his background in dance, one can easily imagine themselves sitting in the audience watching Arturo in motion while listening to his music and from where I am sitting, he appears to be a winner.
Visit the dancing pianist dressed in black at arturomayorga.com and his music store digstation.com
Images courtesy of photoARTworks
The Splendid Sound of Sintra
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
Invention In Music
Australian composer and pianist Fiona Joy Hawkins has 4 award winning projects at present. Her most recent Blue Dream album is successful in placing an exclamation mark after her name when recognizing Fiona’s outstanding abilities and claim to fame in international status.
Fiona’s many achievements include charting at # 1 on World New Age radio charts spanning 9 countries, Best Piano album in the NAR Lifestyle Music Awards in 2006, and as finalist in 2 genres in the LA Music Awards in 2007. She also won the Classical / Jazz category in the Music OZ Awards in 2008. after being a finalist 5 times and ranked finalist in 4 categories including Album of the Year in the NAR Awards in 2009.
Ice : Serve Slightly Chilled is innovative, dynamic and bold, confidently stated by yours truly. With an inventor’s approach, Fiona’s compositions are patently administered on her Steinway Concert piano as a new musical prototype.
It is on the Ice album where this patent innovation in New Age, Contemporary piano begins, charting an adventurous course in the way a musician blends Classical New Age, Contemporary, Chill Out, Jazz, World and Rock. What impressed me the most was a momentary departure from her exceptional, yet more Contemporary albums that won her claim to fame. Portions of the Rock overtones present in this album challenge some of our basic assumptions of the term Piano music. Another concept is a transition in the way Rock music has been perceived in the past, creating a new approach in the way we view the term Rock music.
With an inventor’s approach, Fiona’s compositions are patently administered on her Steinway Concert piano as a new musical prototype.
The 10 songs are issued titles with an icy thermodynamic theme, setting the spine chilling mood in motion by providing a mid tempo application of Classic New Age Chill. The song Iced Rain discloses a trademark Fiona Joy Hawkins piano arrangement, yet grants an exclusive design concept by applying a mixture of genres and unique instrumentation. While Aboriginal Didgeridoo echoes an indigenous woodwind call to the wild, ebony and ivory piano keys appear to reach an entire range of octaves to establish a new dimension in piano music. Thunderous percussion unites with electrified guitar to diagram the upbeat momentum for this ground breaking discovery by commingling Classic piano and Rock music into a single entity.
The Ice project discloses more than just an improvement made to a prior existing musical product. Fiona takes an inventor’s approach in redefining the fundamental basics of the way we perceive Piano and Rock music.
Cloud Chill is a song innovation that starts out as a meteorological weather advisory on the horizon when native Didgeridoo once again reverbs an ancient voice into the past, present, and future. Fiona’s epic design in piano rhythms then integrate with electric guitar, blending into musical matter cool enough to penetrate what we term Rock music.
Her novel invention in composing first finds a crack, pressurizes and then expands, breaking the barrier of Rock music from a familiar musical genre, shattering what was once a large form of music into tiny little pieces, thereby creating a new music entity.
The Ice project discloses more than just an improvement made to a prior existing musical product. Fiona takes an inventor’s approach in redefining the fundamental basics of the way we perceive Piano and Rock music.
The 2 songs I just described titled Iced Rain and Cloud Chill are playing on our Stars Radio so that you may hear this invention in music for yourself. You may also read my review of her latest album titled Novel Blue Dream and then discover the online art gallery and music website of fionajoyhawkins.com
Picture copyright Bigstockphoto.com
Upcoming Jim Brickman Concerts
Jim Brickman will perform in Greenville, SC, at Peace Center For Performing Arts tomorrow, 05/14/09, at 7:30 p.m. On 05/15 he will do two concerts at the Newberry Opera House, Newberry, SC, at 3 and 8 p.m.
Here you can see Jim Brickman’s tour plans – and you can get tickets. But if you cannot make it to any of the concerts, you can still check out the video on the page and see Brickman’s incredible piano performance.
Watching for Rain
It is spring time here and for once the sky is cloudless and blue. Still I find myself looking for rainclouds. The reason for this is Anne Trenning’s new release, her third album, entitled Watching for Rain. In the center is Trenning’s wonderful, lively piano, backed up by live violins and other orchestral arrangement and occasional drums.
It starts with the gentle melodies The Ash Grove (a Welsh folk melody) and Silent Night II. You can safely play the last one all year round, without getting into that heavy Christmas feeling; the Silent Night follow up is just a nice and positive melody. But the album doesn’t really start before you get to track three, Eden Hall. It is an upbeat piano melody like no other. Or, that is not quite right… Another version of this classical song appeared on Anne’s first recording, Suite Tea. This new version is great!
Watching for Rain is yet another impressive release from Anne Trenning
Like on all quality piano recordings, there are a lot of variation. Here you get everything from the traditional spiritual I Want To Be Ready, the modern gospel H. I. A. T. W., the Don Schlitz-Paul Overstreet country classic When You Say Nothing At All and a 37-second benediction-like coda of Bob Dylan’s I Shall Be Released, which concludes the album.
Watching for Rain is yet another impressive release from Anne Trenning. I you are looking for a vibrant and colorful piano album – look no further; start watching for rain you too.
You can sample the album on CDBaby. Also be sure to check out the artist’s homepage.
Visit New Age Music World
- New Music – Family Values by Craig Karolus
- Marc Enfroy – Dreams of the Forest
- Cinematic Piano Music by Marc Enfroy
- Sounds from the Circle – New for 2012
- What is New Age Music ?
- Mysterium Tremendum by Mickey Hart Band
- Gandalf & Steve Hackett Live Album – Gallery of Dreams
- Gandalf & Steve Hackett – Live Concert
- Mickey Hart Band – Concert Tour 2012
- Yanni Concert Review – Live at El Morro