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Reviews 01-12-2005 |
Music Reviews |
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Reviews 01-12-2005 |
Music Reviews |
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by George Winston |
“Montana - A Love Story” is George Winston’s tribute to his home state, and contains an eclectic grouping of piano solos coming from a variety of sources. The only real surprise on the album is that only five of the seventeen pieces are Winston’s original compositions, but I doubt that his fans will be disappointed. From the beginning, Winston has called himself a “folk pianist” rather than “new age,” and quite a few of the tracks are folk or traditional songs that Winston arranged as piano
solos. Winston has again included a piece by fellow native-Montanan Philip Aaberg, a pianist Winston greatly admires and respects (who doesn’t???). Most of the pieces are melodic and graceful, with the possible exception of Frank Zappa’s “The Little House I Used to Live In,” which is more discordant and abstract - can’t say that I like that one much. Winston mentions in his liner notes that he is playing a lot of solo piano dances, and he includes some of his favorite pieces from those as well. Several of the
tracks have a strong Asian-influence - an interesting development. |
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by Chuck Brown |
“Incandescence” is Chuck Brown’s third solo piano release, and his ninth album to date. Comfortable working in many styles and genres of music, Brown’s piano style is easy and relaxed without resorting to ear candy. Some of the thirteen tracks are piano only, and others have string arrangements by Steve Bashaw. Brown also adds embellishments on electric guitar, bass, electric piano, and drums. Several of the pieces were composed as songs with lyrics, so there is a very strong sense of melody.
The music is intended “for those who are gong through tough times due to illness, loss of loved ones, or any other type of personal pain,” providing a warm and soothing respite. More reflective than melancholy, the music contains feelings of hope and comfort - like a nice long musical hug. |
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by Frederic Delarue |
“Dolphins: A Message of Love” is quite simply one of the most beautiful albums I’ve heard in a long time. Frederic Delarue’s third album of original instrumental works is stunning in its richness, passion, and joy. Using Korg and Kurzweil synthesizers/keyboards/ samplers, Delarue has created vibrant, inspiring music, and some tracks feature the sounds of dolphins and the ocean. Several pieces are piano-based and some feature wordless vocals that give them a very ethereal sound. I really
like Delarue’s first two albums, “Voyage of the Soul” and “Soaring With the Angels,” but think this is by far his best work to date. “Calming” and “soothing” are words that come to mind, but the music goes beyond that, as it can be listened to many times with full attention without getting “old,” and yet is very effective in the background. There aren’t many albums where I thoroughly enjoy every track, but I love this one! Delarue truly composes and plays from the heart, and his sincerity and emotional depth
are compelling. |
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by Brenda Warren |
“As Years Go By” is an intensely moving exploration of the depths of the soul. Deeply emotional and introspective, one senses the healing process of fully expressing oneself is taking place as we listen, healing our own wounds as we go. It has been ten years since Brenda Warren’s previous solo piano recording, which was acclaimed worldwide. She has been writing songs with lyrics in the meantime, but felt it was time to come back to her roots in solo piano. Lucky us! Eight of the eleven tracks
are solo works, and three are accompanied with strings or synth. The improvisational elements in the music give it a sense of freedom to develop and explore. |
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by George Skaroulis |
“Athena - The Best of George Skaroulis” is an eight-year retrospective of this artist’s most impressive body of work. The sixteen tracks include four never-released pieces, so even if you own all of Skaroulis’ previous albums, this is still a must-have. Known for his evocative blending of piano and keyboard as well as traditional Greek musical idioms and contemporary piano stylings, the title track is a bit of a surprise with its Yanni-like big sound. The song was originally released on
“Return to the Homeland” in a somewhat different format, and that version is also included on the album. This track includes piano, a beautiful violin part played by Paul Mercer, percussion, and additional keyboards. Rhythmic and celebratory, it is very Greek in style and sound. A great start! The only piece on the CD that isn’t original is Skaroulis’ lovely arrangement of “Hymn to Liberty (The Greek National Anthem).” Presented as a piano solo, its simple melody is haunting. “Goddess” is another new track, and
is one of Skaroulis’ most beautiful pieces. A melancholy piano is accompanied with Jairaj Swann on electric bass and Alex Wolf on guitar, along with elegantly interwoven synth parts that give it an ethereal quality. “The Dance” clocks in a less than a minute, and demonstrates that less can truly be more - a perfect solo piano vignette. I also really love “Return to Patmos,” a reflective and haunting piano piece with synth strings washes that actually enhance the piece. “Voice of the Ancients” is the fourth of
the new pieces, and includes a male voice speaking in the background behind shimmering string and synth sounds. Another vignette, it’s an interesting interlude. Other titles include “Numinous,” “Reflection,” and “Hopes and Dreams.” All of the tracks have obviously been carefully and caringly selected, and there isn’t a weak track on the album. If you are new to George Skaroulis’ music, this is an outstanding introduction to his work. One of my favorite artists, Skaroulis deserves a much wider audience. “Athena”
is available from amazon.com and www.georgeskaroulis.com. Very highly recommended! |
