Solace of Mountains and Clouds is the
fifth release I am covering by the exquisite piano player Kathryn Kaye. It was
like visiting an old friend when I gave this new recording my first listen. I
received everything I have come to expect from an album created by this
exceptional artist, top-notch musicianship, production, and sound.
If
those three factors are in place consistently on your recordings there is a
very good chance you will garner the praise you deserve and all the respect
from your peers in the industry. You can tick off all the boxes in that
category for Kathryn as well.
Solace of Mountains and Clouds is a
direct reflection of the surroundings of the artist where she lives and creates
all of her compositions. The inspiration of mother nature can be found in many
different segments of the artistic communities. I must say after several years
of listening to instrumental piano and new age music, that the images and music
presented most definitely go hand in hand. The production elements are superb
thanks to the Imaginary Road Studios and the fine stable of artists that
contribute to this and many other recordings. The partnerships created are
absolute bliss, with Kathryn’s recording being no exception.
A few
of my favorites are “Slow Waltz at Summer's End” and “While The Mountain
Sleeps.”The track titles are as moving
as the music. The images created by the titles and music are all at once
prolific, calming, spiritual and rhythmic. There is an innate sense of
musicality and tones emanating from those talented fingers that touch the ivory
keys.
Solace of Mountains and Clouds is
the soul of nature mirrored in the music and the colors, atmospheres, and
vibrations of this wonderful music. It starts by touching all of your senses
then it finds a way to your heart and soul. Any good instrumental music holds
that magic but to do it sowell and
for so long is an incredible achievement and a gift to all that have the
pleasure of hearing it.
Tracks: 01. Luna's Dream 3:57 02. For Love of Earth and Sky 5:12 03. We'll Be Home Tomorrow 4:13 04. Slow Waltz at Summer's End 4:24 05. Solace of Mountains and Clouds 6:06 06. Mountains Touching Sky 4:10 07. Finally Spring 5:16 08. Warm Sun, Gentle Rain 4:00 09. While the Mountain Sleeps 4:27 10. Stories Told by Trees 4:55
I
first heard an album from Raphael Groten in 2015 covering Journey Home. So
now with 4 years between albums, we have a double-disc set to make up for the
lost time. The new release is titled Star
Lullaby. 29 tracks comprise his latest recording.
Star
Lullaby on disc 1 is all original solo guitar music produced at
Imaginary Road Studios with Will Ackerman and Tom Eaton. Disc 2 includes the
same songs but with featured musicians Michael Manring, Eugene Friesen, Ron
Korb, Charlie Bisharat, Jeff Haynes, Noah Wilding, and Will Ackerman.This will provide each individual listener the
opportunity to hear all tracks as they were meant to be heard with the guitar
and then another opportunity to hear it all with instruments added. You will
have the chance to compare and contrast each song, but most of all come to
appreciate what a true artisan Raphael is with his six-string.
The picking and plucking of the acoustic guitar can create
many soundscapes, textures, colors, and images. This is where the artist
succeeds in seemingly effortless fashion. Certainly, it sounds very smooth as
he transitions from one song to the next but surely this is not an easy thing
to accomplish. Making your guitar the only instrument, then filling in all the
spaces with the right tones and rhythms, must be a task. And then thinking of
adding many other instruments and where to put them properly in a composition
is another challenge. What you never have is a window into the process and
obstacles one can run into on such an ambitious undertaking. That must have
been more of a challenge from a production point than cutting the first disc
with just guitar.
On the
second disc, Raphael was very smart and made sure his guitar remained the main
instrument. This does not take away from the added instrumentation. The artist
commented: To be clear, the tracklist is the same for both discs, except Disc 2
which has a 15th track: “Star Lullaby” (vocals).
(Which by the way, is very good).
Truly,
my inspiration for the double CD came early on in production. As I began to
overdub the featured musicians (which was thrilling!), I realized that while I
expanded the sound for my fans, I also wanted to maintain their capacity to be
able to listen to just the solo guitar.
I think that puts it
all into proper perspective for the artist and for the listeners.
With that said, I found the additional instruments a
benefit to the tracks, particularly with Michael Manring's distinctive bass
style and tone.The natural partnership
of bass and six-string guitars are very evident when listening to these tracks.
I also think because the guitar is acoustic, it allows the other instruments to
shine and accompany Raphael in the most complimentary way possible. The beauty
and simplicity of the first disc are very enjoyable and will be appreciated by
guitar fans and those of easy listening or relaxation music. The same applies
to the second disc but what you get is more layers of sound without any
compromise from any one instrument, it all blends together beautifully.
There is just so much to enjoy on Star Lullaby that it would seem unfair to site any one track as a
standout because they all are, it’s as simple as that. This is quite a treat
for the ears and senses and the contrasts and variety are superb.
Artist: Ann Sweeten Title: Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow Label: Orange Band Records Website
Ann
Sweeten has a story to tell. This incredible woman and musician has suffered
through 3 bouts of cancer. I found her words inspirational. She does not want
anyone to feel sorry for her, she wants positive support and for people to stop
and smell the roses of life that abound all around us.
Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow is her
story set to music. Words are not necessary with such talent at the keys. The
eloquence and beauty of piano instrumental music reach new heights for the
artist on this release. With everything going on in her personal life she has
found the energy and inner spirit to push herself beyond any physical
limitations and turn into something positive and wonderful.
The
title track is a gorgeous heartfelt melody flowing like a stream of rhythmic in-sync
spirituality. In other words, Ann becomes one with the music and the end result
is extraordinary. “Philadelphia 22” is so emotional and full of the grace of
the heavens. The power of her rolling piano passages finds its foundation in
classical but the soul of the track is all Ann. The addition of the cello,
English Horn, and violin give the tracks another layer that brings an
additional emotive element and that classical sensibility.
There
is sadness in the music however her piano brings out the joy and positive vibes
that are within her and it will heal not only the artist but everyone that
hears it. That is the beauty of this music. The story behind it all is
incredibly real and it will touch many lives.
Before
Today, Beyond Tomorrow will leave an indelible mark upon your
soul. After reading about her tribulations, the music took on a stronger
significance. Just knowing what Ann has been through, her great attitude and
the messages she delivers in the music, it would give anyone pause. I heard the
birds chirping last night and looked at my wife and said “Hear them chirping?
They sound so happy.” That is the purity of nature and all the sounds, smells,
and colors that are all around us. I am so grateful for that kind of awareness
and the gift of this music, all music, that heals and takes me to another level
of reality.
This kind of instrumental music envelops you in a cocoon of
tranquility that cannot be retrieved during a normal busy day. This surely is
music made for those seeking healing that goes beyond words.
Tracks: 01. Across the Midnight Sky 02. Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow 03. Beyond the Clouds 04. The Empty Swing 05. Saying Goodbye 06. Philadelphia 22 07. Vanish 08. Lullaby for Blackie Boo 09. Through Winter Panes 10. Like Smoke Through a Keyhole
This was a double bill that I have waited for months to see. This was also one of many times that I have seen Judas Priest however the first time I had the opportunity to see Uriah Heep.I have been a fan of Uriah Heep since the 70s and have all the early studio releases along with a few when lead singer Bernie Shaw came into the picture. In addition to that, I had just picked up their most recent studio effort and 25th mind you, titled Living The Dream.The album is excellent and their strongest in quite some time. I think they decided to reach back and take some of the elements that made them who they are along with more modern technologies and recording tools to come up with a real winner. And yes, it rocks, making them the perfect opening act for Judas Priest.
Mick Box started the band in 1970, bless his soul. He is the only surviving original member left, and it’s a good thing because they are not UH without him. He looks great with his long white hair and energetic guitar playing, which was from start to finish. He captured the audience immediately and that grew as they made their way through the new and the classic tracks.
Bernie Shaw mentioned how hard it was to go through 50 years of music in one hour but they did a fine job. I would love to see a full-length show with them at some point. I brought one of my friends with me that loves metal and has been following both bands forever like myself and you could not wipe the smile off his face all night, it was a beautiful thing to witness and just as satisfying as the music itself from my own perspective.
Uriah Heep which is a fictional character created by Charles Dickens in his novel David Copperfield. Heep is one of the main antagonists of the novel. His character is notable for his cloying humility, obsequiousness, and insincerity, making frequent references to his own " 'umbleness." So how many of you UH fans remember how that relates to an album title? If you guessed Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble you are correct! There was a time when I had no clue how all this tied into the name of the band and that book.
While the visit was short with Uriah Heep, it was long enough to know that they are still alive and well and rockin’. It gave me the incentive to catch them live again. I really appreciate how they performed the early rockers “Gypsy,” “Stealin’” and “Look At Yourself.”
So, the standard break started and they prepared the stage for the headliner that everyone was clamoring for. Everyone was chanting “Priest, Priest, Priest.”That is a tradition at the concerts as all fans of the band know. As Rob Halford acknowledged, heavy metal fans and the overall community are the most dedicated group and they could not do what they do without us. It goes both ways Rob and we love the fact that you are still coming out to bring all that great music to us!
The opening song was “Necromancer” from their latest album Firepower. Rob came out in a new outfit for the number. I just had to get a pic of that and include it with this review. It was a great way to kick things off and the audience was pumped and ready for everything that they were going to dish out. I would say this crowd is very enthusiastic and partiers, I being enthusiastic minus all the partying. There was a couple behind me that polished of their share of alcoholic beverages but were still well behaved even though one of them spilled some of their drink on my head and left an empty cup in my seat. I know it sounds comical actually and that is exactly how I took it and carried on with a smile and enjoyed the entire spirit of the evening.
Priest covered some ground, going through their early career to promoting the newest release with some cool videos as a backdrop to their juggernaut two-man tag team guitar players of Richie Faulkner andAndy Sneap. And it goes without saying that the rhythm section of Ian Hill (bass) and Scott Travis (drums) is the foundation of their explosive sound.The two six-string slingers have turned into admirable replacements for the legendary one-two punch of Glen Tipton and K.K. Downing.They are great players and have assimilated the Priest cannon with dedication and fire that has kept things moving right along so we all can still enjoy their studio recordings and live shows.
They saved all the fan favorites for their encore which included, "Hell Bent for Leather," "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight."
With another memorable night in the books, it makes me feel blessed to be alive and able to have the privilege of attending these great live events and provide coverage. Another big thanks to my long-time partners at Chipster PR for providing me the great seats to enjoy last night to the fullest. I was fully drenched in sweat and voicing my approval along with three thousand some fans in attendance. And that enthusiasm continued into the streets after, people were buzzing and chanting all over again.
If you’re looking for a dream come true double header metal concert you need to catch this show!
This was a double bill that I have waited for months to
see. This was also one of many times that I have seen Judas Priest however the
first time I had the opportunity to see Uriah Heep.I have been a fan of Uriah Heep since the 70s
and have all the early studio releases along with a few when lead singer Bernie
Shaw came into the picture. In addition to that, I had just picked up their
most recent studio effort and 25th mind you, titled Living The Dream.The album
is excellent and their strongest in quite some time. I think they decided to
reach back and take some of the elements that made them who they are along with
more modern technologies and recording tools to come up with a real winner. And
yes, it rocks, making them the perfect opening act for Judas Priest.
Mick
Box started the band in 1970, bless his soul. He is the only surviving original
member left, and it’s a good thing because they are not UH without him. He
looks great with his long white hair and energetic guitar playing, which was
from start to finish. He captured the audience immediately and that grew as
they made their way through the new and the classic tracks.
Bernie Shaw mentioned how hard it was to go through 50
years of music in one hour but they did a fine job. I would love to see a full-length
show with them at some point. I brought one of my friends with me that loves
metal and has been following both bands forever like myself and you could not
wipe the smile off his face all night, it was a beautiful thing to witness and
just as satisfying as the music itself from my own perspective.
Uriah Heep which is a fictional character created by
Charles Dickens in his novel David
Copperfield. Heep is one of the main antagonists of the novel. His
character is notable for his cloying humility, obsequiousness, and insincerity,
making frequent references to his own " 'umbleness." So how many of
you UH fans remember how that relates to an album title? If you guessed Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble you are
correct! There was a time when I had no clue how all this tied into the name of
the band and that book.
While the visit was short with Uriah Heep, it was long
enough to know that they are still alive and well and rockin’. It gave me the
incentive to catch them live again. I really appreciate how they performed the
early rockers “Gypsy,” “Stealin’” and “Look At Yourself.”
So, the standard break started and they prepared the stage
for the headliner that everyone was clamoring for. Everyone was chanting
“Priest, Priest, Priest.”That is a
tradition at the concerts as all fans of the band know. As Rob Halford
acknowledged, heavy metal fans and the overall community are the most dedicated
group and they could not do what they do without us. It goes both ways Rob and
we love the fact that you are still coming out to bring all that great music to
us!
The opening song was “Necromancer” from their latest album Firepower. Rob came out in a new outfit
for the number. I just had to get a pic of that and include it with this
review. It was a great way to kick things off and the audience was pumped and
ready for everything that they were going to dish out. I would say this crowd
is very enthusiastic and partiers, I being enthusiastic minus all the partying.
There was a couple behind me that polished of their share of alcoholic
beverages but were still well behaved even though one of them spilled some of their
drink on my head and left an empty cup in my seat. I know it sounds comical
actually and that is exactly how I took it and carried on with a smile and
enjoyed the entire spirit of the evening.
Priest covered some ground, going through their early
career to promoting the newest release with some cool videos as a backdrop to
their juggernaut two-man tag team guitar players of Richie Faulkner andAndy Sneap. And it goes without saying that
the rhythm section of Ian Hill (bass) and Scott Travis (drums) is the
foundation of their explosive sound.The
two six-string slingers have turned into admirable replacements for the
legendary one-two punch of Glen Tipton and K.K. Downing.They are great players and have assimilated
the Priest cannon with dedication and fire that has kept things moving right
along so we all can still enjoy their studio recordings and live shows.
They saved all the fan favorites for their encore which included,
"Hell Bent for Leather," "Breaking the Law" and
"Living After Midnight."
With another memorable night in the books, it makes me feel
blessed to be alive and able to have the privilege of attending these great
live events and provide coverage. Another big thanks to my long-time partners
at Chipster PR for providing me the
great seats to enjoy last night to the fullest. I was fully drenched in sweat
and voicing my approval along with three thousand some fans in attendance. And
that enthusiasm continued into the streets after, people were buzzing and chanting
all over again.
If you’re looking for a dream come true double header metal
concert you need to catch this show!
The last time I heard the sweet sounds of Gerhard Daum’s
guitar was in 2017 on Rural Renewal with
his guitar and string ensemble. At the end of last month, he released Songs Without Words. The title says it
all right? Well, not quite.
Gerhard’s guitar playing is outstanding and that did not
come as a revelation considering his last effort was a 5-star outing. I decided
to just call it instrumental in regards to genre. He covers some ground so
making it all inclusive was the best route to take.
You will hear some biting rock and blues licks along with
some electrified cinematic jazz moments (‘Told You So”). “Gentleman’s Way”
really caught my ear, its upbeat and consistent rhythms and timings made it an
instant favorite. “Gold Rush” was another ear catcher, it sounds like a made
for TV soundtrack or commercial, actually anything cinematic that needed some
added color or depth, then this track would add those elements to it and make
it all complete.“Timeless” was superb
as well, another one for the highlight reel. One even better for the film
industry would be “Walking On Clouds,” with its orchestrated layers and
excellent reverberating jazz-inflected guitar notes.
To be perfectly honest, what is there on Songs Without Words not to like? I loved
the entire album. Although I am partial to guitar-based instrumentals, I do
require a high standard of listening pleasures and strong production values with
everything I hear. This recording gets an A+ in every category and is an
absolute joy to listen to.
I am sure Songs
Without Words will easily find a home with the contemporary instrumental,
jazz and easy listening stations streaming all over the globe. It has that durable
crossover appeal because Gerhard goes from strength to strength so seamlessly,
mixing all the genres. Every additional instrument to the guitar is just the
proverbial icing on the cake. There are many great moments to enjoy on this
album night or day, it all fits just like a glove to complete your day with a
smile in your heart.
Tracks: 01. Berlin Song 02. Talking Softly 03. Gentlemen's Way 04. All That Matters 05. Gold Rush 06. Timeless 07. Holding the Dream 08. Going My Way 09. Told You So 10. Walking on Clouds 11. The Early Passion 12. My Foolish Heart
Ed
Blumenthal is a Chiropractor by trade. His was no different than many married
folks trying to make a life for his family. His work became demanding and his
children needed his time as well. Little time was left for him to play the
piano. In fact, it took him nine years to return to the ivory keys. As if by
some magical instance or the hand of God, Ed learned how to play the piano
without being able to read music. He is self-taught and took videos of his
hands creating the basis of some tunes. Further down the road, his wife took
the tapes and converted them over to DVD, and he was able to relive his videos
playing.As fate would have it, a cello
player named Eugene Friesen, thought the music needed accompaniment. To make a
long story short, Ed ended up in Will Ackerman’s Imaginary Road Studio to
record The Late Train Home. That is
the music you will hear on this recording.
In a
literal sense, the album is late in coming but it finally made it home. Ed and
his music are The Late Train Home.
The cover of the album is a view from the train with a beautiful sunset and the
crescent moon right above it. We can all be passengers on that train and while
we are all traveling down those tracks of life on our journey, we can sit back,
breath deep, knowing and trusting that everything is going to be ok. We are
here for a reason and to meet our destiny. Ed’s most certainly met his and part
of the path he took led to ten tracks on this instrumental piano recording.
Some folks may not agree but I look at this as contemporary instrumental music,
particularly with piano, as a sub-genre of new age. It is easy enough for
relaxation and meditation, so it qualifies as far as I am concerned.
Ed’s
piano is like waves and ripples of sound that glide over your body, touching
every sense you have, bringing to life awareness of your being and
spirituality. In my world, any good music has that capability regardless of the
genre. The rolling piano and rhythms are what mesmerize me and carry me away
from where I am and where I need to be at that moment in time. Take for
instance the title track, it is a captivating and poignant track that has
character, purpose, and it tells the story of an artist reaching his
destination. Music does speak to us in many different forms. For my ears, I get
what the tracks and the title of the album mean by first understanding where
the artist is coming from and where they are going. Then I look at the images
presented and it all falls into place. That is for me from my vantage point and
hopefully in sync with what the artist is trying to convey.
You
must look beyond yourself and inside the music to find the answers you seek.
When looking through the eyes and soul of another, or in this case the music
which equates to those two elements, we see a reflection of ourselves in some
shape or form that makes perfect sense. That is what The Late Train Home did for me but the train home was on schedule
and arrived at the destination right on time.
Tracks: 01. Who Knows 02. The Roads Imagined 03. We Walk On 04. The Hands We Hold 05. Along The Way 06. The Late Train Home 07. Always Waiting 08. Until Then 09. The Sea Sings 10. For Us
Dan
Palladino is no stranger to recording music. His debut in the new age/ambient
genre just arrived in February this year. Pastoral
Memory is seven tracks born out of the art of improvisation.
Dan uses a blend of acoustic and electric guitars over the
top of synth harmonies that breath in and out to create a fluctuating and
soothing effect. Music like this is like an animate object taking form in your
mind’s eye. One of the best examples is the lead-off track “Rising.” It is the
ultimate musical exercise clocking in at a plentiful 10:15.
Some of this music can be used for focus and meditation.
You will hear a steady tone throughout parts of songs like “Thankful,” which is
another generous portion of Dan’s art at 5:13 then it nicely segues into
“Joyful Cleansing” yet another space in time that allows for focus and
relaxation, giving the listener 8:48 minutes. Dan uses the guitar for
consistency with a steady picking while you hear the movement of water. Then
another seamless segue goes right into “Passing Storm,” with rain and thunder,
as the synths add an additional layer of texture and ambiance. As the storm
passes the birds are happy again tweeting away and it blends right into
“Aftermath.” So now you are seeing the logical progression of the music in the
titles and the purposeful transition from one track to another.
The addition of the synths is essential in making this an
ambient treat for the ears, mind, and body, which for this listener, equates to
a happy soul. I for one really appreciated how all of this was arranged and
titled. It all made sense to me and did arouse my internal receptors to all the
sounds and vibrations.
Six out of the seven songs are given plenty of time and
space for the creator of the music and the appreciative listener. For a debut
in this genre, this a stunning group of tracks brilliantly composed and
exercised by Dan Palladino. One other point is the cover, the cool color of
blue water and the white clouds set you at ease and set you up nicely for what
you are about to hear on Pastoral Memory.
