Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Piano

  • This Little Light

    This Little Light

    Every now and again an album come along that simply wraps around you, designed to do nothing more than to present the pure enjoyment of listening to music well-crafted and constructed. Such is this offering from the talented Matthew Schildt with The Little Light. Taking more than two years to evolve, the end result has been well worth waiting for, as it combines a carefully selected range of styles, touching on gentle jazz tones thought to melodic piano, and a dash of indi-rock.

    Morning Light, Changing Flight is unexpected as the joyful picture on the cover of the album leads to consideration of a completely difference aspect other than what is suggested in the cover picture. The lovely, warm oozy ambiance of wordless vocals, an up-tempo beat, skilful mixing, with a subtle addition of mandolin and acoustic guitar wraps around you, offering nothing but pure pleasure in the skilfully executed piece.

    In Schilt’s words, Circling Sky proved to be the most challenging song to complete as it is a composite piece that developed a direction of its own during the recoding process, changing direction many times over from the original intent. When you combine wordless vocals with electric guitar, keyboard and immense talent from the artists involved, and then simply let it happen, follow the rhythm , absolute perfection has been the result, as there is a little of much entwined within the music.

    Music is a form of alchemy, an alchemy which has been created in This Little Light, with once again the flow of wordless vocals creating an ambient song, offering complete relaxation with the mellow nature of the piece.

    Heralding in Now The Day with a definite percussive beat, creates an almost businesslike feel, which commences briskly and then moves across into an enjoyable expressive, laid back jazz style. This then leads comfortably into Listening From The Other Room, which is definitely lazy jazz executed to perfection, as it immediately permeates the mind and soul to encourage that sense of comfort and ease that comes from this almost luxurious style.  Moving on through the next track simply adds to the relaxed ambience until Shine appears which once again changes the emphasis with the addition of vocals to piano.

    Mixing and blending, gently nudging the mind, tantalising the senses with things passed and remembered is Late Evening Waltz, a piece reminiscent of times gone: times when the dawning of the morning sky simply heralded in  the ending of night spent in romance, having that one last endless waltz, unwilling to end the perfection of magical evening . Gentle, enjoyable but with the reminder that this last waltz is only a fleeting moment to be savoured and then tucked away to be treasured for all time.

    Finally the end of a beautiful journey must arrive with Reunion, an upbeat, but soothing piece with once again a lot of much entwined, creating a fitting finale to an album which is simply pure delight and enjoyment.

  • Prelude to a Dream

    Prelude to a Dream

    A sense of gentle naivety has been created with the simple and yet skilful use of the piano by talented pianist Shoshana Michel in her third album, Prelude to a Dream. Following on from her previous releases, with her debut album Soul Whispers very well received and her second album, Dancing on the Wind consisting of original music, nominated for Whisperings Solo Piano Radio’s “Album of the Year,” One World Music Radio’s “Solo Piano Album of the Year” and SoloPiano.com’s “Album of the Year” this latest release is certainly one for consideration come award time.

    Coming back from a hiatus of more than 24 years, a period in which she withdrew from composition, her time away from this alchemical art has allowed her to create music that is unique, inspirational, with a delightful freshness that comes straight from the heart.

    Beginning with Wonders, she delicately encourages relaxation, and a sense of almost innocence, as she trips across the keys. Enjoyable and light, it is a piece which welcomes you in, gently leading into the title track Prelude to a Dream, which encourages a continuing sense of the relaxation already commenced. It says let the world go by for just a minute or two, be peaceful, relax and enjoy.

    A Walk in the Rain is something which can be joyful, even though the end result is somewhat damp: the soft, light touch of gentle rain lends a special a magic to the moment when you are at one with the world around you, enclosed in a soft and yet gentle blanket of nature’s making; subtle, different and unique to that time and place: an ephemeral moment Michel has managed to capture perfectly.

    A more upbeat piece is created with Kaleidoscope, where the notes are changed and shifted into an ever-changing pattern, such is life, and such is the power of subtle change; through looking at shifting perspectives, change slowly becomes normal and is absorbed into life.

    On every album there is one piece which resonates a little more and on this one it is Meditation; a piece which is not at all what you imagine it to be by the title; it simply entrances, encouraging a short time of stillness, to refresh in the midst of a busy day.

    Both A Most Precious Gift and a Silent Farewell complement each other; one for the precious gift of life, love and hope and the other reflecting on a life and time spent, a soul passing and the reflection and acceptance that is there in both of these times in life: the beginning of a journey yet to be undertaken, the completion of a journey lived, enjoyed and celebrated, yet again captured through the medium of music.

    Ethereal completes this heartfelt gift and is a delightful, light and reflective piece with what could be considered a celestial touch, so delicate is the melody.  Absolutely beautiful and completely relaxing.

    Definitely music for the soul!

  • Equus Rising

    Equus Rising

    In her own words Lisa Swerdlow describes her music and compositions as pieces that ‘help people to find an emotional and perhaps spiritual connection’ and hopes ‘her music can act or help as a vehicle for healing the heart’.

    As people in an ever increasingly fast paced world we simply do not have the time to relax, to grieve, to contemplate and allow the body, mind and spirit to heal; to take another deep breath before leaping back into the madness that passes for everyday life.

    When a delightfully joyful, up tempo album such as Equus Rising comes along, it does bring a feeling of peace, relaxation and enjoyment along with it. It says take the time to listen, to enjoy, you are allowed.

    For an album that appears to have little variation and surprise in the construction of the pieces, which is, in this instance is excellent, as it allows the mind to simply drift, float free, to enjoy  whatever visions desired to be created before moving on.

    Her love of horses, the outdoors, the freshness of morning and evenings permeates the music, with each track gently taking a change of direction, both expected and unexpected, which considering this is purely a piano album, is intriguing and well considered.

    Swerdlow has found inspiration from many artists on the Windham Hill label, their gentle and slightly mellow styles being woven into the fabric of this album. Her own musical background, which spans both the classical and jazz genres, has eventually seen her move towards the New Age genre. As this style of music constantly appears to shift and change, it offers inspiration to incorporate a wide and influential range of styles, allowing the composer and musician free range, which Swerdlow has used to good effect.

    As a collection of pieces to sooth the soul and heal the heart, Equus Rising does all of that in a simple, generous and heart felt manner.

  • Shifting Sands

    Shifting Sands

    Teasing the ear, tempting the memory, tantalising the senses are just some of the enticing emotions to be felt with this new collection from the delightfully relaxed piano of Lynn Tredeau, who has, once again, blended a range of emotions into sublime music with the true skill of an alchemist.

    As always she has a delicate touch, which seems to simply drift from one piece to another with effortless ease, enticing the listener to float slowly along with the ambience created. To have the music playing in the background is to bring a great sense of peace to the room, the space, to offer a soothing touch in a busy lifestyle, to share a moment where, to simply sit and enjoy, is possible.

    Shifting Sands as the title piece for the work, is delicate and light and yet has a depth that indicates that perhaps all is not as settled as it could be, maybe is desired to be, and that simply by going with the flow, beauty is revealed in the highs and lows of life.

    Hands twinkling lightly across the keyboards create the introduction for Dance of the Unknown which can relate to many things; life, expression, a beginning, an end, a creation. How many times is a journey undertaken with the final destination just a teasing glimpse away; Dancing across the patterns of life, the end is as unknown at the beginning but will always be discovered.

    A signature piece is Looking to Lowman, created from the moment when Trudeau was sitting high on a hill watching the effects of wildfire, burning all in its pathway: the fury, the heat and the scant disregard to whatever was in its way. The destruction caused, eventually to recover, replace and to move on towards a new beginning; Different and yet somehow the same.

    Within the twelve tracks each emotion is presented with infinite skill and understanding, which has become synonymous with Lynn Tredeau. In Whispers of Hope there is a joyful light heartedness apparent immediately, a slight hesitation, a pause before leaping off into the unknown, pinning faith in what is to come. This piece has smile hidden within which brings joy to the soul. Gorgeous!

    The final piece If Ever in My Life is gentle, but also reminiscent of looking back, wondering and asking the timeless yet always unanswerable, ‘if ever, or perhaps, or if I could have…’but interwoven carefully, is the minute where the unanswerable is resigned to the past, often with a little regret but the a new moment beckons, tempts with the freshness of looking forward, to moving on, tempered just a little with knowledge often hard gained.

    Her music is beautiful, appealing, gentle and genteel, capturing the very essence of life and life’s journey with understanding and love.

  • Land of Nod

    Land of Nod

    From the first track on this delightfully relaxing solo piano album, you feel right at home. The notes of the piano tease the memory into remembering a time when life was different, slower, and easier; in many ways far more peaceful.

    Each of the beautifully crafted tracks have been created with nothing but pure relaxation at the very heart of each piece, all of which have been delivered with a delicate and light touch that is endlessly appealing.

    The titles alone, Rocking Chair, Marmalade Skies, and Looking Glass River to select just a few, immediately create a vision of something memorable: sitting in your grandma’s rocking chair as a child, the majesty of a sunrise or sunset, the timeless nature of a river moving slowly, peacefully towards its destiny, have all been captured within the music.

    Compelling and infinitely enjoyable, Dillon has encapsulated so many elements required to create an enjoyable and relaxing listening experience with styles ranging in complexity to simplicity, allowing the music to appeal to a wide age range.  His style is such that you simply absorb what feels like music you have known for many years, music which is tucked somewhere inside you, comfortable, familiar and enjoyable.

    Should you have problems switching off at night, settling the children for sleep or simply unwinding from a long and stressful day, this collection of what could loosely be termed lullaby’s, will have definite appeal.

    As a young man growing up on Kathmandu, Nepal, Dillion began to learn piano in elementary school and continued on during his high school years. Born with ADHD and autistic tendencies his music and love of piano helped him toward overcoming many of his life challenges. This inherent understanding of learning to relate, to the need to switch off, tune out and reach a peaceful place has been interwoven through this 15 track album which will become a firm favourite.

    Compelling, relaxing, enjoyable and beautiful, Dillion has created something intrinsically appealing and timeless.

  • At Peace Beneath the Shade of My Father’s Tree

    At Peace Beneath the Shade of My Father’s Tree

    Cinematic, sweeping, all-encompassing and totally enjoyable Terry Lee Nichols takes life and all its ups and downs, transcribing his many experiences into a soundscape which has appeal, reflection, joy and a little quirkiness woven throughout.

    Although the music has the capacity of a movie score in its richness, each of the pieces stands alone, created from one segment or another of his past. As an introverted young boy Nichols discovered the joy that could be found in playing the piano. He also discovered another dimension of music; that of the design involved in the creation, the composition of a score, which led him to creating his first arrangements at the age of four years.

    As a prodigy he began composing and arranging for his high school marching band as well as the school drama group. He began to realise following in his families footsteps towards a more academic application of his talent, was not as appealing as entering the developing arena of enterprise software, where he could use his already undoubted talents to understand and work with complex systems of computer codes.

    Many years later and after many personal challenges Nichols rediscovered his first love, that of music and composition, many of which make up this wonderfully joyful collection. He waltzes through the many mediums and tempos encompassed within the 17 tracks with a richness of emotion, making each of the varied pieces an absolute pleasure to be enjoyed.

    The title track leads in with an offering of peaceful rest as time is taken to simply be and enjoy, whereas Timekeeper is rapid, almost staccato in its intent, created to ensure the pace quickens: hurry up, bustle, rush, but to what purpose!

    A train leaving the station with all the noise and bustle that once accompanied the older models, introduces Train to Dachau, which then segues into a slower, far more reflective mood that falls on the traveller once the journey has begun

    In Autumn  Nichols a has created the very essence of the changing of the seasons, the pace of life slowing ever so slowly, getting ready for the coming winter, leaves changing into the flamboyance of autumnal colours, animals and insects alike getting settled for the colder days to come.

    The finale to what has been in essence a wonderful concert performance is Requiescat, led in with verbal rendition introducing a sombre note about the issues which plague the modern day lifestyle, that of violence and the scant disregard for human life, then the stillness which falls after the violence has left, leaving nothing but silence all around!

    As a first offering from this talented man, At Peace Beneath the Shade of My Father’s Tree, leaves nothing to be desired and everything to be enjoyed.

  • Quiet Piano Improvisations, Vol. 2

    Quiet Piano Improvisations, Vol. 2

    Music that wraps around the heart and soul has been created by Greg Maroney in this his latest ambient piano album which, while structured, is also fluid and free flowing, as if he has simply sat in front of his instrument and allowed the music to flow, to evolve, to be born into creation.

    Each of the pieces will take you into a journey that is as intimate as it is overarching, dancing along one minute then gently sliding into reflection, melting and slowing to contemplation, each piece reaching out and touching as it wanders along. Each of the pieces slowly morphs into the next, creating a seamless and yet different hour long album of bliss.

    Coming from a classical basis the music has a definite structure which underpins many of the pieces but also allows the free fall of the notes as in Rainbow Vision, where the light and shadow blends together to create tones and moods within the single track.

    But going back to the beginning, My Everything really sets the standard for what is to follow, as it opens the doorway into a very personal album of piano, which comes from the very heart and soul of the composer.  While every composition has to be generated somewhere, by a vison, a feeling, a personal triumph or tragedy, seldom does a composer and musician simply compose because they can, and also to see what is there within, still to be discovered.

    In the ambient music genre, Maroney seems to have found his home place, his soul space and is happy to share this with his wider audience.

    As you listen and become entranced you will also notice, as you go about your daily routines, you are feeling far more relaxed, less stressed, a lot happier and calmer. You need fewer coffees to get you through the day and life seems to be so much less complex.

    A tall statement maybe, but try it out for size and see if it fits; you will be more than agreeably surprised with the end result. If you are playing this to help you drift into a peaceful slumber, it will almost guarantee a peaceful night’s sleep amongst the stars.

    As you reluctantly leave the album with the final track With Every Breath, you feel as if you are returning from a long and peaceful meditation, refreshed and relaxed.

  • Openings

    Openings

    A formal little introduction is presented in the Prologue Anthem which while traditional and somewhat staid, introduces a world of music that has been designed and created to incorporate some of the many loves in DeCesare’s life: that of piano, yoga and jazz.

    Imagine if you will a place where the lights are low, perhaps if it is cold outside, a fire is burning or a soft summer’s night, with gentle winds wafting; music is drifting on the ether, soft and gentle, shifting, changing, infinitely relaxing. Or you are in a piano bar, the mood is deep and relaxing, as can only be created at that certain time of night, well after the day has drawn to a close; a man is at the piano, just out of sight tinkering, enjoying the music he is forming and creating.

    This then is the very essence embedded in this delicious album with overtones of classical and jazz piano woven together, mixed with dark and light mediums to produce what can be considered as an almost timeless, romantic musicscape.

    As a yoga practitioner, DeCesare allows this element to shift into the pieces as he so very capably illustrates the element of music can be used to foster an appreciation of the quieter, more relaxing elements of life and living, something we are all too apt to forget in today’s manic world.

    One of the more telling pieces is Farewell where he drifts softly and gently across the keyboard, reminiscing and then up tempos to letting go, moving on interwoven within the rhythm. After listening to this piece several times the desire to hum along becomes almost overwhelming, so when it does overwhelm you, join in too discover a refreshing pause in your day.

    As a debut album, it is one that is has been well designed and created as it allows Nick DeCesare to showcase his undoubted talent as both a composer and artist. To him, making music is creating an art piece or art scape; in this album he has allowed his talent to open doors to see what is there to be discovered, which new directions are there to  be taken, what pathways are there yet to be travelled.

    Delightful and enjoyable and one album  that somehow, will find its way on the playlist of your day as you go about life and living, adding a little touch of peacefulness when most required.

  • The Light Within

    The Light Within

    Sit and let your mind wander peacefully along with music which has been created to simply sooth, relax and enjoy in this delightful album from the talented pianist Greg Maroney.

    Reverie begins this journey into relaxation as it introduces the timeless musical sounds that always seem to go with very, very old places of worship: places that over centuries have seen the best and worst of mankind, have listened to the sounds of praise, joy and sadness which have somehow become absorbed into the very essence of the building, allowing a wonderful peacefulness to descend, not just on the building but also on the journeyman or visitor who has come to this place.

    Time Without End carries on this theme of gentle relaxation with a delightful piano interlude to lift the spirit, to encourage a sense of lightness and wellbeing, which, when followed by the haunting nature of Waking Dreams helps keep you in this mindless state of wellbeing for just a little more time.

    As this is a new departure from his usual style of piano composition, Maroney has spent the time to simply immerse himself in a new direction, experimenting with electric keyboard and piano combinations to create something which is both relaxing and beautiful, delicate and yet sombre, very mindful of the world of which we are only a very small composite part.

    Each of the tracks is as varied as the lifestyle, the note of music, the time, the place, the person or memory which, as with all musicians who compose, is an integral component of who they are, and how they relate and learn from their life journey.

    Maroney’s goal was to ‘create music that is emotionally engaging yet soothing’, and in these marvellous and enjoyable pieces, Maroney has definitely achieved what he set out to accomplish.

  • Landscapes of the Heart

    Landscapes of the Heart

    Beginning with the final track on this wonderfully elegant collection, is not the usual way of going about reviewing an album, but in this instance makes the various pieces far richer and fuller. Solus comes from the Latin word translating into ‘ a man alone with his thoughts’, which is the basis for the compositions formed and presented on this album. Somewhat sombre and introspective, it is a reflection of what has been and what may, perhaps, be to come.

    A man who is classically trained, has studied and achieved a degree in Sacred Music and Piano Performance, Gary Schmidt uses not just his innate talent for composition, but his firm belief that a minimalist approach to music leaves the end product clean, clear and pure; free of clutter so the true intent of the music is there to be enjoyed.

    This comes through time and time again with each of the pieces. His performance of Gnossienne’s No 1 and No 2, pieces written by Eric Satie in the late 19th century, illustrate the depth of talent on display and are absolutely beautiful.

    Back at the beginning The Beauty We Love is almost a classical introduction to the pure pleasure which is to follow, as When Silence Speaks comes tripping daintily along, underscored by the delicate notes of the  cello played by Eugene Friesen, the understanding that a rare and wonderful treat is unfolding is confirmed.

    A Waltz in Two Four, where Schmidt is joined by Charlie Bisharat on violin, is slow and dreamy, very  special, stepping back to a time when to dance a slow waltz with the one you loved was to be treasured, the memory placed away to be enjoyed time and time again.

    Will Ackerman on guitar and Jill Haley on English horn, join Schmidt in You Already Have Wings, which adds an extra dimension to this elegant composition.

    Treasure each of the tracks as each one comes from a different place, a differing emotion, a unique moment, blended to create an evocative mixture of peace and relaxation

    Produced by the legendary Will Ackerman, his alchemy, added to the richness of the compositions, makes a very, very special mix, which places what can be considered as contemporary new age piano, into a class of its own.