Archive for the ‘Solo Piano’ Category

Kathryn Kaye is a talented pianist releasing her first piano and instrumental album. After learning every detail like her lifetime of music experience, the collaborating artists and production credits, I had a feeling her new release was going to be great. In fact Kathryn Kaye’s new release greatly exceeded my expectations since this album really goes the distance.

Dreaming Still is an Acoustic, Contemporary Instrumental, New Age release having many integral advantages, one being the importance of music in Kathryn Kaye’s life, which began with playing the piano at age four.  She later attended college and began working toward a major in music, earning a performance degree with a double major in voice and keyboard.  In addition to her strong educational background she pursued classical training while living in Germany, appearing on television in both the U.S. and Germany as a vocalist during concerts, recitals and operas.

Kathryn Kaye is a musician and songwriter presently residing in Colorado. The beautiful Rocky Mountains region and Appalachian mountain territories in Kentucky recalled from childhood are in part a focal point for this contemporary nature inspired release. Dreaming Still contains 14 songs she composed, half of which are Solo Piano, with the balance in piano and instrumental harmony support by violin, cello, bass and English horn.

The world-class musicians providing instrumentals with piano are commendable, and they are: Charlie Bisharat (violin) Eugene Friesen (cello) Dan Greenspan (bass) Jill Haley (English horn) Derrik Jordan (percussion) and Noah Wilding (vocal). Dreaming Still is a Will Ackerman production, with recording, mixing, and mastering by Corin Nelsen at Imaginary Road Studios. The assistance from these two Grammy Winning talents is a fine enhancement to her proficiency as a composing pianist.

Dreaming Still is a delightful album, and I was pleased to hear a wonderful cinematic touch at times. Waiting For The Rain with piano and cello, then a Solo Piano song August Light were my favorites, but this album is consistent and enjoyable throughout.

I believe Kathryn’s commitment and expertise in music has been vital to the level of quality on her first album, and her choice of music artists was first-class. In contrast to the vast expanse of the Appalachian territory, I expect the appreciation for this beautiful album will go the distance and travel far.  Note: Dreaming Still by Kathryn Kaye is listed at #1 in the ZMR top 100 Radio Chart for January 2011. Congradulations Kathryn!

Visit kathrynkaye-music.com to sample. Purchase at her CDBaby.com page & Amazon.com page.

Photo courtesy Delanda Licata. Cover art courtesy Robert Kooken.

The Christmas season has officially arrived and what a special time of year ! While I believe most site visitors realize the true meaning of Christmas and the real reason we celebrate this special day in the highest regard, our time honored tradition of gift giving continues which naturally raises the question of what makes a suitable gift for our friends or loved ones.

Lisa Downing from Littleton Colorado is a musician with a promising answer on what makes not only a suitable gift, but a personalized one most people would enjoy receiving and a gift most likely to renew their true reason for the season Christmas spirit like her CD album did for me. Actually, when you take into consideration every aspect of purchasing the relatively inexpensive and long lasting gift of music for nearly every gift occasion, this easy to make decision translates into a logical choice.

Lisa Downing’s Solo Piano album titled Christmas for Two may be of interest to you and while there are many exceptional Christmas albums in the New Age genre along with every musical taste from popular artists, Lisa Downing truly does have a special gift herself as a top solo pianist in every sense of the word and this is precisely articulated on her Holiday music release. Plus, knowing Lisa was a youth pastor at her church in Littleton earlier in life and performed in the Christian, Folk, Pop-Rock band named Wings of Faith, you know that Lisa’s heart is in the right place.

Her lifelong commitment as a professional musician are praiseworthy too since Lisa Downing earned a university degree in music, attending both the University of Colorado at Denver and Metropolitan State College, receiving a joint specialized BA degree in Traditional and Non-Traditional Music with keyboard emphasis. Lisa is also an esteemed concert pianist having toured or performed with other renowned artists like David Lanz, Suzanne Ciani, Liz Story, and Peter Kater.

Christmas for Two on her Vision Quest Entertainment label is a Solo Piano Christmas album cordially personifying Lisa Downing’s expressive talents in several ways, plus the 12 holiday tracks are perfect in the sense they reveal traditional holiday music in her skillful expressive touch like you would hear while attending one of her highly personalized concerts.

While Christmas for Two is considered New Age / Neo Classical, I trust any label is of less regard here since every piece chosen for the album will be identifiable and appreciated by everyone like The First Noel / Joy to the World.

You will notice her Holiday release is composed with a delicate balance by the companion format where two songs are united into one like heard on All through the Night / Away in a Manger so there are actually 22 titles in all with the single song exceptions of Silent Night, Canon in D Christmas Medley, and Angels We Have Heard On High.

The traditional holiday pieces What Child Is This / We Three Kings and then O Holy Night / It Came Upon a Midnight Clear were my 2 favorites, plus I found the richness in depth and quality intonation regarding her performance on a Yamaha C7 Acoustic Piano was proficient in entirety like I had expected.

Every song on Christmas for Two is delivered with precision and Lisa’s personal creativity shines by the unique manner in which the songs were impeccably composed into one, with treble and bass notes reaching many proficient runs and chords in all ranges along the keyboard.

Christmas for Two varies from soft and contemplative at moments to spirited phrasing with majestic crescendos like her amazing version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / Carol of the Bells which give new meaning to the term Holiday music.

Now that you know I believe simply listening to Holiday music will help renew the Christmas spirit for anyone like it did for me, and where to search for Christmas Piano Solo music that brilliantly succeeds in establishing the seasonal tone, I hope to have been of some assistance today. I trust everyone will have an especially joyful Christmas this year while recognizing the greatest gift of all and true reason we celebrate the season.

Visit lisadowning.com to sample / purchase. You can also visit her CDBaby.com page or Amazon.com page and read my review of A Delicate Balance on our pages dedicated to Lisa Downing. Lisa and her husband Pete Foster own a combined talent agency and record label representing over 1200 Colorado musicians so find out more at visionquestmusic.com.

Album art courtesy NW Media. Photo courtesy Russell Smoak – The Inner Image.

There are many interesting apps for your iPhone and iPad out there, but one you have to check out is the New Age Piano app – which has just been released by NewAgePiano.com!

The app gives the iPhone owner a collection of relaxing and inspiring melodies. It features music, news, photos, videos, and more from 12 of today’s greatest New Age Pianists.

Among them are our dear friends Ken Elkinson, James Cahall, Peter Kater, Mark Pinkus and Brian Turner.

The app is available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. See a presentation of it here - and get it on Apple Store here.

Now this is something completely different!

New Age Solo Pianist James Cahall has launced a free  iPhone/iPad Application featuring music, news, upcoming performances, photos, videos & more is now available on Apple iTunes.

With this you can stay connected with all the latest updates from James on your iPhone and/or iPad.

Preview the app here.

David Nevue is a composing Solo Pianist where some comparisons have been made to other pianists in the solo category for years.  Those truly familiar with David accept the fact his personalized Neo Classical melodies shed new light on Spiritual piano music while instilling a deeper meaning apart from many by their innermost reverence.

It is true that in addition to his individual concert appearances David who resides with his family in Oregon, has often shared the stage with comparable great talents like David Lanz, Wayne Gratz, Suzanne Ciani, Peter Kater, and a multitude of solo performers, so perhaps a reason some comparisons of his work are made. 

Another reason could be the way up in the clouds airplay since his music is heard on over 220 radio, satellite and internet programs worldwide.  Overcome is a prior album named Best Instrumental Piano Album of 2005 in the Lifestyle Music Awards and Adoration, which also features traditional hymn arrangements reached # 1 on ZMR charts in May 2008, highlighting the integral popularity of his music.

In relation to his music career David also authored the book How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet and founded the educational Music Biz Academy website that helps independent musicians market then advance their individual music careers.  David also founded the free internet based Whisperings :  Solo Piano Radio program having nearly a million listeners each month.

Coinciding like an open ministry of personal faith, Revelation :  Solo Piano for Prayer & Worship is an offertory album of 19 intimate peaceful songs of beauty within, given the honored hymns of worship that persons with or without their own personal inner beliefs will enjoy.

Revelation :  Solo Piano for Prayer & Worship contains 5 new hymn arrangements, 4 original songs and improvisations on 10 modern worship classics and is David’s eleventh release with a rededicated focus on melodic piano music offering a deep spiritual structure. 

Revelation is much like past albums by original content and inclusion of new compositions on age old song hymns from centuries past where church attendees from many religious faiths will recognize in the first few measures. 

David Nevue has a limited degree of formal music studies so recites much of his songs from memory, but believe me this is not apparent when you witness the beautiful music granted to this devout Christian man also identified by a skillful aptitude in his composing abilities and creative spirit while performing his personalized music.

You will discover that David offers his hymns like an open book with a nice variety of thought and feel on each song he performs.  Softly and Tenderly is shown in a like reverence by an emotion filled call during the gentle yet moving piano melody that is more than worthy of this ages old hymn.  Blessed Assurance is an onward moving testament by the lively melody set in a moderately faster tempo that reveals the resolute nature of his work.

Holy, Holy, Holy is a lighter piano improvisation validating the positive hallmarks of the holy trinity and Amazing Love ( You Are My King ) is a more introspective song of tribute and another positive affirmation for the melodies of honor he steadfastly produces. 

David’s version of this Contemporary Christian music hymn is serene by an inner reflection that stands apart from most modern versions and at the same time, celebrates his faithful commitment to Solo Piano music exalting a beautiful reverence overfilled with joyful praise.

Visit davidnevue.com to sample / purchase and learn more about his inspirational music.  Then visit David’s CDBaby.com page and his MySpace page.  To listen to Whisperings Radio go to solopianoradio.com right here.

Craig Urquhart is an accomplished pianist having a renewed focus on quintessential travels into piano music that literally speaks to the heart by virtue of his current seventh Solo Piano composition.   Craig also aims to share reflective memories on this album with hopes of achieving mutual recollections which appear reminiscent to our own memories.

Within Memory is Craig’s classic memoir that takes a transcending tour into piano music that quickly becomes a meeting place to share moments of harmonious reflection, focusing on moments that everyone can relate to themselves.  Residing in New York City, his regional and United States concerts have also earned attendance with worldwide audiences on the airwaves and during performances in Germany, France, and Japan.

Telling of music influences like Classical greats Chopin, Debussy, Satie and Copland, an intriguing aspect about Craig is that he also tells of contemporary influences like Pop and Rock too, so a classic contemporary structure converges with an overall expansive identity in respect to his original compositions. 

Craig Urquhart holds a Masters Degree in Composition from the University of Michigan, and is a member of ASCAP, serves on the Board of Directors with the Lotte Lehmann Foundation, is a Whisperings Artist and voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (  The Grammys  ) which speaks volumes about his comprehensive musical career.

Within Memory is an album well suited for telling much about Craig Urquhart’s harmonious directive for parallel unity and poetically becomes the equivalent memoir he openly shares with worldwide concert audiences, presented by a memorable and sincere narrative from the heart.

In The Afternoon is the preamble song of 10 for Within Memory, having a bright tonal cheerfulness recited by a frame of mind you will find engaging.  Before The Canvas exhibits a deeper tone and image by proficient piano chords modulation while stair stepping upward during ascending treble scales, changing perceptions with each layer.

Rapture is the benchmark showing a hopeful image to the conceptual pondering and lighter melody.  Laid Back has a nice feel by a treble melody concurrent with deeper bass octaves consistent rhythm while October Bright Blue recaptures a crisp and bright piano overture while making a distinction midst the two songs. Low Tide is the deep flowing melody with pause and intonation nicely enriched with hopeful optimism and song I favored most.  Prairie Flowers flourishes into a gently moving melody while traveling to and from, given the preceding treble notes lead the closely timed counter bass notes while held in a subsequent role.

Within Memory ( Title Song ) concludes the album recital for the listener, but for Craig Urquhart it begins an arranged lineup for abundant visits to many countries during his role as an esteemed  concert pianist.  Later this year Craig is scheduled for concert recitals in the United States, Berlin Germany, Positano and Rome, Italy.

 I am certain the concert events slated for this year will be another wonderful social meeting place for notable entertainment along with an exchange of lasting memories for everyone, especially for Craig Urquhart.

Visit craigurquhart.com to sample / purchaseor visit his CDBaby.com page right here.  You can also read his biography page and visit his MySpace.com page.

Picture Copyright BigStockPhoto – aysarts

Close your eyes then imagine a gentle breeze and warm sunshine against your skin.  Add in the beautiful sights, sounds, and pleasing aroma of your surrounding environment so that when everything is considered, makes a memorable day you could term sensational.

This scenario could easily place everyone in many favorite pastimes, but for one concert pianist who enjoys sailing the warm oceanic waters in Hawaii, this description closely matches the wonderful sensations realized while contemplating his next piano album.

Christopher Boscole is the classically trained pianist, composer, and musician where genre’s of New Age, Jazz, folk, and Neo Classical piano, are just some of the elementary influences of his inner expressions as a pianist finding new enlightenment while recalling his personal experiences.

Christopher’s educational achievements run deep, having a Bachelor of Arts in music as a professional music educator performing for over 20 years now that expectedly incorporates his scholastic abilities of quality.  He is also a Master of Music in Studio Music, Jazz, and holds a Master in Teaching degree, also serving tenure as a piano teacher, concert band director, and church accompanist, all of which nicely reinforce his level of expertise.

Inner Voyages is the 2010 release by Christopher Boscole, where after the return trip home to his concert piano, inner recollections and creative observations from voyages of the day are transposed to sheet music for our enjoyment.  These creative inspirations that are drawn from a favorite pastime greatly show original piano compositions as positive memories, and where his freestyle music readily equates these recollections a truly memorable experience for the listener.

A Melody in My Heart & Title Song Inner Voyages makes wonderful first preludes into the total of 12 songs showing inner expressions in a primarily moderate tempo recounted as an uplifting time of restful retreat and overall pleasing experience. 

Heart of Romance share mid range moments of calming ambience with very upper octaves during the final touches, while Spanish Dreamer in a more stirring melody, closely matches the joyful atmosphere of the moment by classic chords journey up and down the note filled landscape.   

Land of Sea and Sky gives breezier moments that smoothly glide in contrasting horizons of calm, where Sea of Spirits reflects leisurely back and forth steps in the scales in notes that give the feeling of time well spent by the song’s more inward introspection.

Cry of the Birds in lingering moments, nicely correspond with key notes that similarly mimic sound imagery of the environment, and Suite Sunrise, has pondering contemplations by a singular key melody paired with upper octave trills where by effect, give a shimmering tint to the open flight of his personal experiences.

Christopher Boscole readily shows much versatility by his prior piano compositions totaling 7 albums.  September Songs & Land Of Music are Contemporary Instrumental, while Shimmer, O Christmas Tree, & Presents Of Angels are Solo Piano, with nominations in 2 categories at ZMR.  His Jazz influenced album Natural Instincts combines talents with great performers in the Instrumental Jazz category, and is a nice selection too. 

Inner Voyages is an album where calmer winds and tides prevail during Christopher’s recollections.  You will find the audible sensations closely match expectations one would discover if they were sitting right beside this music professional while he navigates the warm calm waters of his sensational inner piano compositions.

Visit christopherboscole.com here and sample / purchase at his CDBaby.com page.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto – palms

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

George Winston is not only rising fast on the new age music Billboard Chart with his new album Love Will Come, he is also out on the road – holding concerts and meeting fans.

Webpage AccessAtlanta.com has an interview with the popular pianist:

Driving a Hertz rental car, George Winston has traveled through many landscapes on his way to Tuesday night’s first performance of Decatur’s Eddie & Agnes concert series at Agnes Scott’s Presser Hall. As a composer and solo piano player strongly influenced by setting and seasons, he finds driving a useful way to travel.

Q: How’s the drive?

A: I’ve always liked driving. I get inspiration from various landscapes and places on Earth, from the different sites and energies and the gradual changing of the topography. Sometimes being taken off the beaten path is good.

Q: We know you don’t want microphones at this show in Decatur. What else can audiences expect from the performance? Will you perform in your socks?

A: Yes, shoes make too much noise on the floor. And I don’t like the sound of a miked piano. I’ll be playing fall and winter songs. Some Vince Guaraldi, folk and melodic piano, New Orleans R&B. I’m sure the drive over will inspire something, too. I have yet to make it to the Great Plains, Tennessee and Alabama. I want [the journey] to affect what I play. We’re all influenced by the seasons whether we think about it or not.

Read the complete interview here

There is almost no improvisation in new age music today, even though the genre itself was created out of freeform jazz and Tony Scott’s legendary jam session – resulting in the groundbreaking album Music for Zen Meditation (1964). In the world of digital audio workstations (DAWs) and virtual synths, there is simply not much room for this, due to the way music is carefully constructed.

But in Harlan Mark Vale’s brand new album, The House of Many Mansions, there is plenty of space and room for improvisation. With a few mostly improvised notes, master pianist Vale fills all the rooms of the mansions with music, expression and colors. He shows that improvisation is the key to truly divine music.

I must admit that Vale’s previous solo piano effort, Bright Angel, is one of my all-time favorite titles. I make sure to always have it with me, on my iPod, living room CD-player, PDA and PCs. I love it for the way it creates a world of its own in sound while I listen to it – much like Tony Scott’s album mentioned above. This year’s release is a little warmer and brighter than…well… oddly enough (refering to the name), Bright Angel. 

It is always a good idea to listen to what an artist says about his or her album. Harlan Mark Vale says:

The House of Many Mansions was inspired by the metaphor that each ‘mansion’ is another aspect within the “dwelling places” of consciousness. These portraits of the infinite interior life are the sweet fragrances of the Divine Mystery embodied in us all.

I think it is wonderful to find an album that is so close to the artist’s intention. The opening track Doors of Surrender is like an album in itself; the 12min30sec long piece is like a walk into a dream mansion, where you go through a door and an enormous, beautifully decorated hall (in red and gold, like the cover), only to find a new door is waiting at the end of the hall. It is simply marvelous, an outstanding performance by a master at work. Since it is improvisation, that’s what it is; a performance just as much as it is a track on an album.  

Track two is the title track. It is highly melodious and positive, with a very nice, 7 minute long build-up. The best word to describe it would be “colorful”. Another simply amazing song is the enigmatically named Forgiveness – Allowing the Circling Planes to land – which is not surprisingly the most dramatic song on the album. And yes, the plane lands safely after some quite heavy turbulence.   

Harlan Mark Vale’s albums are never easy listening, and that is also the case with the House of Many Mansions. It is not background music, but demands active listening.

But it is worth it; this album has given this reviewer one of the most rewarding listening experiences ever. I find that there is this almost magical quality to Vale’s music that just captivates the listener. Even if you are not into solo piano music at all, you will experience that the House of Many Mansions is something quite different. Give it a go, and you’ll might get a glimpse of the Divine Mystery. Hearing truly IS believing.

Sample the album here. It is available in high quality FLAC or 320k mp3 (and other formats as well). Click here to visit Harlan Mark Vale’s homepage.

New age piano instructor Edward Weiss asks: Why are there so many unplayed pianos in the United States? On AllAboutJazz.com he gives this answer:

The way I see it is that adults purchase pianos thinking they’ll go the classical route, and then give up because it’s just not satisfying. With electronic keyboards, they’re either given as gifts or aspiring young musicians soon lose interest.

And more:

The New Age style is perfect for anyone just wanting to have fun and make beautiful music. In fact, I can whole-heartedly promise this: With my methods, I can have anyone both playing and composing their own piano music in less than 30 days.

The program is called Quiescencemusic.com

George Winston’s Love Will Come – The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 2, has been climbing fast on the Billboard Chart for new age music over the last two weeks. As of now, Winston has only Enya’s new “Best of” album in front of him!

In 1996 George Winston recorded a tribute album to jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (1928-1976), a musician beloved by generations for the compositions he recorded for various Charlie Brown television specials and for his standard Cast Your Fate to the Wind. The 1996 album was Linus & Lucy-The Music of Vince Guaraldi, and this year Winston revisits his musical hero a second time.

Sample the album on Amazon or iTunes.

Music is an important aspect in many people’s lives, with just one specific genre becoming their favorite form of musical entertainment.  That’s fine really, but most realize it does limit the total music experience, and a vast range of enjoyment found in all forms of music. 

Isaac Shepard from Southern California is like many of us who share the same philosophy when it comes to the unlimited resources for finding great music in other genres, becoming revitalized in the process, and similar to the way Isaac put it, just might make you appreciate your favorite form of music even more.  

Isaac began playing piano by ear at an early age and this early love of music began as a family circle of musical talent while performing with his father during many community venues in California, including benefits for homeless shelters, social gatherings and church events.  I am pretty sure this early introduction and appreciation of all music genres was a rewarding first step in the right direction as he began a well rounded approach into his individual projects as a piano soloist.

Exploring the musical space and taking in all that it has to offer is a universal calling and can be life-changing.  You might discover a genre that pushes your boundaries and leaves you wanting more, or you might come away being that much more thankful for what you call your own.          Isaac Shepard

 The Renewing is Isaac Shepard’s most recent stride into a nicely rehearsed form of expression as a solo pianist, where his individual composing performances offer relaxing ballads, classical progressions and beautiful melodies in each of the  10  songs composed with a pleasing source of renewal in mind.

Tears Can Fall  is a peaceful balled where an extending range of emotion has a presence in both the keyboards and what you will find in your first sample song in new music discovery.  Lead off phrasing is like a gentle question and answer session with treble notes asking the need to know questions and lower octaves blending in a responding reply that contrasts the upper octaves curiosity in important matters pertaining to harmonic togetherness.

Doors of Life has quieter moments in the earliest measures, moving into classic timed refrains before climbing to full heights in terms of the growing melody heard during this piece with steadiness like a soulful march.  While piano keys move to greater distances in this song, the melody flows and sways by nice runs along the keyboard while sweeping notes trickle right in time with a more moderate background.  

All Smiles like the name suggests is motion moving in an upward direction in an easy going natural movement shown by classic form, with strong stanzas recognizing a positive fullness in depth.  The rich fullness of a quiet melody blossoms while reaching full cord progressions with classic touches filling in the outlining shades of color, giving a more dignified tone to the overall feeling of happiness in this pretty song of joyful contentment.  

The Renewing tells of dancing rhythms resting beside moments of introspection, becoming a nice getaway from the pounding beats and winding guitars competing for your attention.  Whatever your favorite form of music is, here is an opportunity to explore Isaac’s latest solo piano release and become pleasantly refreshed in the process.   

Visit isaacshepard.com to sample his unpublished music, popular entertainment gaming soundtracks, and two prior solo piano albums,  Swept Away  &  Deep Joy.  You may also visit CDBaby.com to sample  The Renewing.

Article © John P. Olsen 2010 - Picture ©  Bigstockphoto – Wilmy

No reproduction without prior written permission

James Cahall’s new album Coming Home is in many ways a homecoming. For the artist himself it is a realization of a dream to compose and release piano music, which he had to postpone for years. For the listener the homecoming aspect is all in the album’s atmosphere; the bright and positive melodies illustrate the happy feeling of a long-sought homecoming. Ask anyone, being away is great – but nothing is better than coming home!

James Cahall began playing piano at the age of five, and learned all the basic skills. During high school his interest for classical piano declined, but still his passion for composing music was always there – even though there were no pianos around. In the meantime he studied to become an aerospace engineer.  It was not before his father gave him an electronic piano as a wedding gift, James found the time to pursue his passion for music. This has so far resulted in two albums, The Day Before Tomorrow (2008) and Coming Home (2009).

On a solo piano album, variation is the key to success. Even though all songs on Coming Home are quite fast (which I guess is due to youthful energy – the artist being 27 years old). I feel that there is more than enough variation to keep one’s attention throughout the 58-minute long album. All songs are long, between 4-6 minutes, with a melodic focus. I must add that are a few slow parts too, like passages on the thoughtful title track.

The bright and positive melodies illustrate the happy feeling of a long-sought homecoming.

James Cahall is not, as mentioned above, a professional pianist – but this reviewer finds that he easily could have become one. On Coming Home he plays with the force and authority of a true master.  The recording quality is very good (as expected since it is recorded on an electronic piano). For the darker tones (like on The Passing Storm), a Steinway would have been great of course, but the album does not lack anything in terms of sound.   

The album starts with the song Shades of Autumn. It has just the right amount of melancholy for such a title. Autumn is not just the end of summer – but the beginning of something new too. The leaves have to fall off in favor of new growth.

My favorite track on the album is Pearl’s song. It is that type of melody that just captures the moment and makes it impossible to think sad thoughts.

I was also moved by Midnight Dancer. This song has a very nice build-up that truly shows James Cahall’s skills as a composer.

Coming Home is an impressive album from a young artist. This reviewer concurs:  James Cahall is now home. May this be a place of happiness and creativity in the years to come!  

Sample the album on CDBaby.

Make also sure to take a look at Jamescahall.com - where you get to know the artist.

One of this year’s most popular titles is George Winston’s Love Will Come – The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 2, which is due for release on February 2nd. Believe me, all solo piano fans have a lot to look forward to in this 16-song album!

In 1996 George Winston recorded a tribute album to jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (1928-1976), a musician beloved by generations for the compositions he recorded for various Charlie Brown television specials and for his standard Cast Your Fate to the Wind. The 1996 album was Linus & Lucy-The Music of Vince Guaraldi, and this year Winston revisits his musical hero a second time.

Many of the songs from Winston’s new album are from the Charlie Brown episodes, and tracks for them written by Guaraldi include “Time For Love” from the episode, There’s No Time For Love Charlie Brown, “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown,” and – of course - ”Love Will Come”. The album also features other Guaraldi compositions from his jazz albums.

If you cannot wait till February 2^nd, you can listen to clips from all songs on Amazon!

To all our readers in California; mr. Winston is currently on tour. See the schedule here.

Sometimes less complicated is better. This is truly the fact with the no. 1 title on iTunes Music Store US at the moment, with the descriptive name Relaxing Piano Music. Michael Silverman at Autumn Hill Records has over the last few years produced titles that are just what the audience wants; beautiful, uncomplicated music with an atmosphere that just takes your breath away.

Relaxing Piano Music was released about a year ago, and has been climbing the charts ever since – not only on iTunes, but on all major digital music outlets. It contains nothing less than 30 tracks, beginning with songs composed by the artist and ending with Pachelbel’s Canon and Amazing Grace. 

Again; this is just what the audience wants, a combination of new and old - nicely mixed. It is well played, with a noticeable passion. The piano doesn’t sound especially rich or powerful – but that is not needed on a release like this.

You might argue that Autumn Hill Records creates music that is close to the new age music stereotype – but who cares? If the music communicates with the soul, and Michael Silverman is selling more albums than any other artists out there – Autumn Hill Records must be doing something right. Or, should I say, everything right?

New titles by Autumn Hill Records this year is Bella’s Lullaby: Sentimental Piano Music and Relaxing Piano Music Seaside. You can sample the music here.

Most people begin their day with the hopes of making the most of each new opportunity improving their lives in some aspect.  One solo pianist has made it a priority to better his music abilities through hard work, education, and practice.  This dedication to betterment has empowered him to acquire musical abilities heard at a more professional level. 

Matthew Labarge from Blacksburg Virginia is the composing solo pianist who first started his job career as an engineer, then began to study piano composition full time with composer John Hilliard, shortly releasing his first two albums, First Fall Night & In Small Hours. 

Even though both projects are something to be proud of, he felt composing was his stronger point and actively began to rebuild and improve his technique of piano playing from the ground up, greatly restructuring his performance foundation before releasing his current album October.

Music has been so very important to me.  During my worst hours, it has been a singular candle in the darkness.  I truly can’t imagine life without the music that I love.

What music has done for me, I want badly to pass on.  My deepest hope is that this music inspires you and makes your life a little better, if even for some fleeting moment.

                                                                                                Matthew Labarge

Believing this latest solo piano project is his best to date, I do agree with him after listening to all  3  albums, and I do notice the improvement in his performance abilities, but wouldn’t completely disregard his prior albums.  I did like the songs Prelude & Dance from the  First Fall Night album.   

October is Matthew’s latest release and the first he had total control over, having wrote, played, engineered, and produced the entire project.  This latest highlights his re-dedication to self improvement on the piano, and it shows in both the composition and performance aspects in my opinion.

This album is polished and sincere, greatly dignified by the abundant classical touches that portray Contemporary Piano in a refined manner by his classic articulation, elevating both the expression and imagination to the overall project, without over emphasizing the classical music enhancements.

The song Wedding Waltz has special meaning to Matthew since it was written during the time period when he proposed marriage to his girlfriend, and is already a bit revealing to the rest of us now that we know that. 

This first piece begins in a mid tempo moment of quiet anticipation that gently responds with an invitingly deep tonal perspective, parlayed in a classical straight forward sense, yet in a provocative way too by the inclusion of major to minor key changes.  The rich piano melody is timed equally like a sentence where cords join in unison, adding the context of emotion as if waiting for her answer, which now leaves the rest of us wondering what was the outcome of his marriage proposal.  Her reply was YES !

The song Leaves Dancing marks the officiating period when our happy couple exchanged wedding vows, placed rings on one another’s fingers, and then became husband and wife.  This celebration piece appropriately leaps with excitement starting with an upper register play on notes that are well suited, befitting the theme of colorful leaves falling on an October day while also observing this couple’s commitment pledge to one another.  Then an interchange in octaves are given during the melody, marking this song and occasion by the leaps and bounds of notes from upper register octaves that step to lower register notes, then revisit again, qualifying both this moving song and this wedding occasion as a beautiful celebration of their holy union together.

Those of us at newagemusic.nu would like to congratulate Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Labarge on their recent wedding.  We wish you both the very best and much happiness in your life together.

Visit the Just Married Solo Pianist matthewlabarge.com here and sample music at his MySpace page here. 

Picture Copyright Bigstockphoto – Yarchyk                      

Imagine yourself as captain of a sailboat near the Hawaiian Islands exploring nature in the great outdoors, taking photographs, listening to music, and then sketching out the notes for your next piano solo album.

Christopher Boscole is the composing artist who enjoys those activities while sail boating near his home in Hawaii.  I am sure composing piano music rates among the highest on his list of activities since he currently has  6  albums available.  September Songs & Land Of Music are Contemporary Instrumental, while Shimmer, O Christmas Tree, & Presents Of Angels are Solo Piano.  I also found his Jazz influenced album Natural Instincts a pretty good performance while combining his talents with other like minded artist in the Instrumental Jazz category.

Christopher is a classically trained pianist having a Bachelor of Arts in music and professional music educator performing for over  20  years now.  He is also a Master of Music in Studio Music and Jazz, and holds a Master in Teaching degree, so it won’t come as any surprise that you will find these qualities apparent in both his composing skills and music abilities.

Presents Of Angels is his current release, doing well after receiving nomination in  2009  at the online Whisperings Radio.  This latest original composition for Solo Piano is in the New Age, Lyrical Folk Piano style of Contemporary Piano.

You won’t hear any dry music Seascapes, since his studious background apparently provides an effortless grace that rises like a tidal swell, then sails along comfortably with many points of interest during his adventures on the grand piano.  The solo performances are gently delivered with vigor and grace, capturing the full range of motion on the piano keyboard, as if he were capturing the full wind in his sails

The  14  songs represent a wide range in tempo and style in a classic setting, bestowing a restful state of repose and contemplation, while also granting exciting moments full of adventure. 

The song Sailing To You is a good choice since there were many classical thoughts and key changes that held my interest, which pretty much describes the complete solo compositions on this latest album.

Just as a person would stand and pull the rope rigging hand over hand on a sailboat, Christopher resides at his piano in a like manner, except this hand over hand crossing motion is a gentle touch of the piano keys, giving a sound impression of ocean waves softly lapping against the hull of a boat.

Christopher’s next original Solo Piano release for this fall titled Inner Voyages will undoubtedly reflect his sailing adventures too.  I can just picture Christopher composing music for this next album after first charting a direction, hoisting the sails, and then setting the boat rigging.  Knowing his piano compositions are set to a gentle ocean breeze, everyone can expect another smooth sailing performance. 

Visit  christopherboscole.com here and then sample at CD Baby.com here.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto – mandj98

I’ll start this review by commenting the cover. You see, Ken Elkinson’s seventh solo piano album, entitled Link, has a very funny greeting from the artist written in the cover. So before commenting the music, I’ll quote the inside of the cover. It says: 

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me personally. I am mr. Ken Elkinson, the wife of Mr. Thabo Kennedy, who was recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact on South African trade journal and decided to write you. Before the death of my husband, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of US$15 Million.

And so on. It is the typical scam mail, right? But Elkinson has added his own twist:

(in order to get the money) I will ask you to do the following in the exact order described: First off, purchase both a Bösendorfer 200 piano and a Yamaha C3 Piano. Then practice a lot of 31 years.

The list goes on and on. Bottom line is: he tells you what it takes to make an album like this, in the “scam mail” format. It is really creative. I must also note that this is not the first Ken Elkinson album to be delivered with a funny and somewhat different cover text.

That said, the album itself is also great – but a bit darker than most Ken Elkinson albums. But don’t get me wrong; it is a great album!

Link starts with the title song, which is thoughtful and slow. Track two, Homecoming, is like a classical piano ballad. It is gentle and playful, and you can hear that it is fun to play.

Yes, Link really is a bit dark. Songs like Dry Lake Bed, Doubt and House At Dusk paint a picture that is filled with shadows. But this makes the lighter songs, like Awakening and Tide sound even more fresh and alive.

Link tells about a musician that has found his expression, and is able to communicate deep emotions. But if you are new to Ken Elkinson’s music, you might want to check out some of his other albums first – like Midnight Conversation (1996) – but old fans will for sure enjoy to be linked to this new release.

You can sample the album here.

It is perhaps no wonder that Christian religious music does not have a central position on the new age music scene. Apart from the hundreds of Christmas new age albums that are released each year, only a few can be labeled both as Christian and New Age. It is of course an open question if it is even possible to be both new age and Christian at the same time. But let’s the quasi religious discussion rest for a moment, and focus on an album that really has the best of two worlds; Sacred Spaces by Judson Hurd.

Inspired by artists such as Philip Aaberg, George Winston and David Lanz, this Paraguayan pianist (who now resides in Greensboro, North Carolina) has released his first solo piano; a marvelous collection of hymns. It takes you on a tour to some truly sacred spaces.

One of the best aspects of this album is its beginning, the title track composed by the artist himself; it is almost like a frontal attack. Sacred Spaces is a colorful song with a wonderful drive. Sample it, and you’ll see what I mean. Another song by Judson Hurd is the last one, Gospel. When listening to it, you almost expect that a crescendo of heavenly voices suddenly will start singing the good news. But no voice is heard, and that is ok too because it is a truly soulful solo piano song!

Hurd gives us heartfelt versions of songs like Amazing Grace, Go Tell It On the Mountain and He is Exalted. The thing I like the most is that the recording is pretty rough around the edges. There is a distance between the piano and the microphone that gives it a room feel. To say it bluntly; this is not a release for the Hybrid Super Audio-CD 5.1 Surround crowd. The recording is very basic. There is even an audible click at 40 seconds into Amazing Grace. But that doesn’t matter at all, because it is in all other respects a truly inspired recording. When you listen to it, you feel like you are at a concert – and it is not a sterile studio production, played on a million dollar Steinway. That said, Judson Hurd is a very talented pianist that truly doesn’t need a Steinway to shine.

Sample the album, and you will for sure feel the power of the sacred spaces, either you choose to call it Christian or new age.