Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Piano

  • Searching For Solace

    Searching For Solace

    Jon Dahlander is a man who, when he sits to play the piano, allows a true depth of emotion to guide his creation, which is very apparent on his latest release Songs of Solace, a beautiful album which enchants and captivates as its weaves a sense of peace and acceptance.

    His last album, Songs for Smiler McGee was released in 2017 and therefore this latest release is an absolute joy to listen to as time in this case, makes the pleasure of new album very special.

    Dahlander explores the deepest emotions, each one delivered a with a delicate touch. Thirteen songs, each one a gem within itself come together to create perfection which begins with Osage, a delightful, reflective song to help set the mood, the scene the moment in time to sit and enjoy.

    Moving through the collection the first songs are all somewhat deeper until you get to the interesting Miss which can, if you are into interpreting mood, be contemplated from many differing perspectives. A softly gentle favourite is Wave but just prior to that the catchy little Cherry wafts in breath of change with its uplifting tempo.

    Remnant is a somewhat intriguing name for a final song: is it letting go of the remnants which hold us back or the viewing of life as we live it filled with remnants of things we no longer understand or need. Whatever the sentiment that drives the creation of the song the endless magic of music is that you can see within each carefully created note, whatever dream you choose to envision.

    Songs for Solace will be one collection of reflective pieces to be enjoyed time and time again.

  • For My Brothers and Sisters

    For My Brothers and Sisters

    In a refreshingly light and optimistic style Tanner Christian Gesek brings a delightful new collection of solo piano work to be enjoyed with For My Brothers and Sisters, which is in so many ways an offering to all who walk life’s pathways; brothers and sisters all.

    Opening the enjoyable thirty minutes of music is A Stroll In The Upper West Side a tribute to his time spent in New York City, in which he has captured the hidden quiet moments in a city built around the vibrancy of life.

    The intriguing title Ribeauville, with the carefully measured notes of the song, allows the mind to drift to places unknown; perhaps for those who have travelled the lesser known places of France, they may have come across the oldest medieval town in Alsac, Ribeauville, perched on the side of a hill, majestic is its history.  A most beautiful and intriguing song which is a stand out song in the ten song collection.  

    Drifting along in a cloud of gentle harmony, the captivating A Story of the Far North unfolds in dainty notes, once again allowing the mind to drift, bringing with it memories of slowly falling snow, the drifting of leaves towards the earth, the gentle hum of nature at work and play.

    Short and snappy Air Snow Fire is once again a catchy combination of emotions, moving gently into the upbeat Elmhurst that simply dances across the keyboard laced with joy.

    Long Victory a more mellow mediative piece draws a collection of graceful songs reflective close.

    For My Brothers And Sisters is an absolute joy to listen to and a work that is filled with optimism, and hope in every note.

  • Singular

    Singular

    Listening to the peaceful, relaxing release Singular from David Wahler, some months after its release in October 2024, and in the aftermath of a busy festive season, the music is absolutely perfect to wash away the stress and leave a feeling of pleasure.

    His music is, as always, beautifully constructed and Singular is no exception. He draws on the emotions of growing older, looking back, looking forward and shapes these emotions into delightful songs which are deeply poignant.

    Singular is an interesting composition structured with a classical feel, singular notes coupled with the deep brooding tones of the ‘cello make this a sombre note to commence a delicately balanced and charming Album.

    The song titles bring a smile, as in Love in the Meadow which encourages a journey back through one’s life, perhaps tempting one to maybe revisit those halcyon days once again.

    Perhaps the saddest two words in the English language are If Only…. the title to a song which is gently ambient in construction, with the soft notes of the piano set at specific intervals, which encourages regrets to be reviewed and let go into the space that is endless.

    Lotus Lake flows on from If Only bringing with it the vision of soft and gentle pleasures, a delicate beauty seen for a fleeting moment in time, gone until the next flowering.

    Filled with joy Fingers Touching lifts the emotions to that special moment in time when you touch the hand of the one you love and experience that magical moment of pure romance. A favourite.

    Ah, the heartbreak of asking love me, is captured with delicate care and precision in the final, elegant song Love Me, slightly hesitant and yet so deeply felt, making a graceful finale to a most gratifying collection of songs.

    David Wahler is an multi award winning musician whose music never fails to charm, sooth and reflect on life in its many and varied colours.

  • Mary, Did You Know?

    Mary, Did You Know?

    Mary, Did You Know is a modern Carol written in 1991 by Buddy Greene and originally sung by Michael English on his debut Album. Both men were members of the Christian based band Gaither Vocal Band.

    Since then it has gone on to become a much loved song, which if you listen to the lyrics offers much for pondering upon.

     Charles Szczepanek has taken this varied tempo song and in a reflective moment at his piano crafted a soft, gentle and yet vibrant version of this very popular song; a song which has gone on to be recorded by many particularly in the Country and Western genre.

    Under Szczepanek’s skilful fingers the delicate and flexible beauty of this song comes alive, offering a relaxing interlude in the Christmas bustle.

    Mary, Did You Know is another one to add to the playlist but not only for Christmas listening.

  • Iridescent

    Iridescent

    After listening to the singular tracks that makeup Louis Anthony de Lisle’s latest work, Iridescent over the past months, it is an absolute pleasure to be able to relax into the beautiful, gentle and romantic mood woven simply for pleasure.

    Commencing with the lovely Iridescent written for friend Nancy Rumbal’s birthday, on which she plays oboe, the delicate blend of piano, oboe, with the subtle addition of a bracket of jazz, makes a lovely jazz fusion blend with which to commence a special, romantic moment in time.

    Our Golden Hour is a softly floating song which while structured encourages a walk back down memory lane to meeting a first love, the golden hour spent in sublime bliss; a new beginning, a poignant time always to be treasured.

    Paying tribute to those which were lost is the slightly pensive, deeply emotional The Loves We Lost (2020 -2022) for those whose lives changed forever during the COVID pandemic.

    Gentle, divinely relaxing and sensuous Some Kind of Lullaby is absolute romance, delivered with emotion: a man, his piano, the lights low, the woman he loves being worshiped. A song with which to fall in love.

    Dusk; a moody, delightfully elegant song reminiscent of the bewitching time between now and then, when light is gently softening, days colours are slowly blending into night, a time of dreaming, allowing the emotions to drift as you a walk arm in arm with the one you love, towards a future still unknown.

    Nancy Rumbal gently ushers in Aurora, before a soft joining of strings brings with it a touch of almost but not quite ’Hollywood” romance in a delightful bend of harmonies, before deLise arrives with a lovely cool jazz segment, in a song full of softy teasing moments with which to celebrate one of nature’s more awe inspiring moments:  Aurora or Dawn arising.

    That First Morning is a song of wonderment, of new beginnings, of hope for the future, with the special person in your life; which leads eloquently into the divinely beautiful Summer’s Glow wafted into being with cello and oboe, partnered with subtle piano, flute and guitar discovered in the blend which pleases the senses.  

    Drawing a delightfully sensual, relaxing and romantic work to a close is The Blue Hour, singular, mellow, a tribute to the darker, mystical shades of blue just before the sun rises and sets; a blue hour, a moment in time with which to reflect, the shades of a darker blue bathing the earth in delicate soft light.

    When Louis Anthony deLise takes time out from his busy life to sit and compose on a personal level, the music is guaranteed to be something very special. Iridescence is in all its many layers of emotion, pure bliss for forty short but delightful moments in time.

  • 24 Impromptus

    24 Impromptus

    More than seven years ago, Pam Asberry was a very talented pianist who enjoyed her work, teaching and playing; creating music to be enjoyed. She felt driven to compose and since her first album Seashells in My Pocket released in 2017, she has gone on to create some incredibly beautiful, memorable music.

    Her new release 24 Impromptus is a collection of twenty-four small pieces combined to make almost one hour of delightful listening. Asberry has the pieces listed as affirmations, which is a perfect description as any one song would make the perfect accompaniment for an early morning or anytime at all simple affirmation or small prayer.

    Each piece has a delightfully intimate element that can be either cheerful, thoughtful or full of lightness and fun as is Impromptu No. 3 in G Minor – “Bliss” a somewhat delicious song.

    The drifting melody Impromptu No. 9 in E Major- “Serenity” floats along with a delightful simplicity, which gathers into a slightly more robust finale before the more thoughtful Impromptu No 10 in C-sharp Minor – “Mercy” unfolds in gentle waves of sound.

    Moving down the list there is the luxurious Impromptu No. 22 in G Minor – “Persevere” once again slightly dreamy with a definite grace that captures a sense of tenacity often needed in life. Impromptu No 24 in D Minor – “Magnify” is the final aspiration and is a song filled with grace to conclude an absolutely charming collection.

    For those pianists, there is also a spiral bound, printed Songbook to accompany the album. Each of the songs follow in the classical music tradition of a set of pieces in all the major and minor keys of the chromatic scale.

  • Desert Meets Ocean

    Desert Meets Ocean

    Desert Meets Ocean is one of the most delightfully unexpected albums of the year, as it combines for the first time, the immense talents of solo pianist Michael Martinez and flautist Sherry Finzer in a body of work which enchants.

    Martinez felt inspired to write flute into his latest series of compositions. To bring his work to reality he approached Sherry Finzer to collaborate with him; the rest is history, as it is to be said that this could be considered as some of their finest work. This is his first collaboration with Sherry Finzer as he writes primarily works for solo performance and hopefully it will not be the last.

    At the recording session in Arizona, full of nerves, with little expectation, he wondered how Desert Meets Ocean would evolve, but under the skilled fingers of Finzer his work came alive. The Joy In You is a short, lively, joy filled piece and one which, when Martinez heard the flute dancing over his composition, simply ‘knocked him out’.

    The ocean is often the inspiration for Michael Martinez works. The dreamy and mellow Ocean Dreaming captures that mediative ambience of the ocean on a day when perhaps the skies are grey, the water movement is slow, thoughtful, almost tranquil, an acceptance of what is and what could be within reach

    Sherry Finzer is renowned for her healing and mediative compositions that are filled with spirituality. In Sedona the deeply spiritual element found in the desert has been artfully translated into healing song in a delightful dance of flute and piano.

    Intricate and reflective the rich textures of When Dessert Meets Ocean unfold in a carefully constructed melody allowing the majesty of desert and ocean to be compared; their similarities gently observed, their timeless elements of nature combined in one perfect composition.

    Intimate emotion charms with the delicate Sweet Embrace; soft, slow, tranquil and romantic, is a song straight from the heart that transcends the everyday life for just a moment, but what a moment……………….

    The final piece Longing carries this theme further with a soft, slow melancholy hinting at things unsaid, filled with hope for things to come as Martinez and Finzer conclude what is a collection that evolves with a graceful elegance.

  • Love Walks Through Rain

    Love Walks Through Rain

    Beautiful, poignant and delicate this beautiful series of compositions, Love Walks Through Rain from Ann Sweeten touches the heart with enchantment as the emotion pours forth, soft, gentle and peaceful.

    For more than 20 years Ann Sweeten has been composing her own music, reaching deep into her emotions to create haunting pieces that remain timeless in their appeal. Commencing with Valley Green she created the basis of the album in tribute to her beautiful dogs, both of whom passed within months of one another, leaving her bereft.

    Glimmer was written in a time of hope, that the treatment would be successful, but sadly this was not to be; despite the sadness within the piece the light touch with careful use of violin makes this a most enjoyable moment.

    Through the darkness of health challenges, Sweeten has used her music to create beauty in the most memorable way.  Love Walks Through Rain is one such piece reflecting on the rain that does fall on each life, changing, washing clean, offering hope, easing pain and sorrow.  Somewhat somber and yet, as with the other songs, washed with a delicate emotion that simply says where there is life, there is hope and wonder to be found. Haunting soprano saxophone gently played, makes this a particularly poignant piece.

    While the songs have been written in tribute to beloved dogs, Red (Requiem for an old friend) is in honour of a majestic Red Maple, more than 200 years old which eventually had to be removed as it was slowly dying. This tree had seen worlds and people change over its lifetime, offering shade, vibrant colour and shelter to Sweeten and her dogs for more than 40 years.

    Bringing a softly gentle and perfectly divine neo classical work to a close is Valley Greene, Orchestral Reprise closing the circle, perfect in its balance of emotion, capturing the sweetness and strength of love that holds true, guiding and encouraging through life’s storms.

    Enchanting, delightful and poignant Love Walks Through Rain is Ann Sweeten at her best.

  • Iridescence

    Iridescence

    When a significant birthday looms no matter the age, it signifies the ending of much and the beginning of so much more. As the year number increases the joy of life becomes very significant with the world considered through very different lenses.

    What to gift to the birthday celebrant is also something that takes much thought and consideration. When the gift giver is composer, pianist and percussionist Louis Anthony deLise, the gift, in this instance was a beautiful, delicate, intricate song styled in a Jazz Fusion blend titled Iridescence, for his long-time friend and oboist Nancy Rumbel.

    Rumbel a strong supporter of the Oboe being used across many genres, through her performances with the Richard Russell Quartet and the Paul Winter Consort, known for their ‘ecological’ jazz, was invited to play on the recording of the song which adds to the lovely backstory of the piece.

    The title Iridescence is intriguing as it creates images in the mind of the delicate, shimmering wings of the dragonfly, the multitude of colours to be discovered on the butterflies delicate and yet strong wings, the many hues of the rainbow forming through the gentle mists, the shades and colours of life as it ebbs and flows, which are reflected in the various layers of the song.

    Opening with the light, sharp notes of the piano, the distinctive voice of Rumbel’s oboe joins in, soaring over the background melody created by a blend of piano, mixed with light percussion presented in an intricate and creative groove. Floating and gossamer like in emotion, but with a distinctive voice, the elegance of the piece makes it an interesting and most enjoyable addition to the Jazz Fusion range of music.

    As Iridescence is the first in a series of singles to be released throughout the later part of 2023 and then worked into an album, it sets a very high and exciting standard for what is to come in the months ahead.

  • Downtown

    Downtown

    Downtown is taking a walk down memory lane with Robin Spielberg, on a voyage into the past of popular music, which in the day was fresh and exciting, capturing so many differing beats; a sound which has stood the test of time, and now under the fingers of world acclaimed pianist Robin Spielberg, has been given fresh appeal.

    Who can forget the emotional and captivating Rainbow Connection written by Jim Henson for the Muppet movie in 1973. Kermit the Frog was spending time reflecting on life and the magic that can be found in a Rainbow. Spielberg has captured the intent of the original song in full Kermit the Frog style. A timeless gem to commence a wonderful collection of carefully selected covers.

    The smaltzy Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue is reminiscent of Jazz clubs of the 1930’s and ‘40’s, where you are expecting a chanteuse to wander onto the stage and add husky vocals to the slow romance of the moment. Originally released in 1977 it remains a perennial favourite. Made her own in this sensual rendition, the song oozes with emotion.

    Slow, measured and evocative, the beautiful A Thousand Years speaks of love long awaited, but the fear of loving too much is of concern, until a brave heart understands that to loose love is not acceptable; to be brave and accept the love is to win.  Beguiling.

    In 1961 Country and Western Singer Patsy Cline released Crazy which was to go on to chart second on Billboard and is now considered as a C&W standard. Spielberg captures the absolute pathos of the song written by Willie Nelson back before he became famous.

    Oh, Babe, What would you say is a perfect capturing of the moment when perhaps you could fly away to the Moon and journey to the Milky Way or bring flowers every day. Covered by many in various styles, Spielberg creates a magical, mellow rendition filled with warmth and once again a little light romance to capture that moment of maybe, I could be so in love with you……………

    Dream a Little Dream of Me is the perfect pick for the last song on this romantic collection of past hits. Sung by such greats as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Doris Day and then to a new generation in 1968, by Mama Cass Elliott as her debut song as a single artist, it is a song that will never lose its appeal. Mama Cass considered it the most beautiful song she knew. Spielberg’s gentle treatment of this song is full of romance.

    Downtown is collection full of classic hits which will resonate to the older audience, whom will undoubtedly remember all the words, yet will hold great appeal to a younger more modern generation who enjoy beautiful, romantic music presented with rich emotion by Robin Spielberg. Don’t be surprised to find yourself singing along with these much loved pieces!