Friday, November 30, 2018

Top 25 Albums for November 2018

Presented in alphabetical order by artist name.

Artist Name Album Title Label
2002 A World Away Galactic Playground Music
Acoustic Ocean Blue Moon Rising Natural Health Source
Aidia A Beautiful Fall Kevin Keller Productions
Al Jewer & Andy Mitran Perihelion Laughing Cat Records
Alexandra Stréliski Inscape Secret City Records
Ann Licater Quiet Spaces: Flute Meditations for Mindfulness and Relaxation Cul de sac Mystic Productions
Brenda Warren Beautiful Journey Seven Mile Music
Briana Di Mara Haven Briana Di Mara
David Lindsay Last Passing of Summer David Lindsay
Deva Premal Deva White Swan
Dulce Joya Reality of Dreams CD Produktion und Vertrieb
Jim Brickman Soothe, Vol. 4: Subzero Odeon Records Limited
Joseph Akins The Best of Joseph Akins Heartsong Music
Kerani Small Treasures Kerani Music
Lena Natalia Lonely Satellite ATELIER RLS
Marcia Watson Bendo Woodland Moons Marcia Watson Bendo
Michael Logozar  Passage Michael Logozar
Michelle Qureshi Silver Chord Heart Dance Records
Peter Sterling Magic Kingdom Harp Magic Music
Rick Wakeman Piano Odyssey Sony Masterworks
Ryan Judd An Open Sky Two Owls Music
Sangeeta Kaur Mirrors Sangeeta Kaur Music
Sherry Finzer  Acceptance  Heart Dance Records
Steve Rivera Beyond Measures & Time Steve Rivera
White Sun White Sun III Be Why

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Al Jewer & Andy Mitran

We’re excited to present an audio interview with Chicago-based recording duo and multi-instrumentalists Al Jewer & Andy Mitran. They’ve just released an album called Perihelion, which features collaborations with several notable musicians in the new age, world and contemporary instrumental genres. We’ll discuss the inspiration behind the album’s concept and the metaphorical connection to its astronomical title, as well as play some music and touch on their past releases. So please tune-in for some conversation, fun and a musical journey around the sun!



Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Album Review: Thankful Heart, Joyful Mind by Pam Asberry

Classically-trained pianist and composer Pam Asberry follows-up her summery Seashells in My Pocket album with a wintry Christmas album entitled Thankful Heart, Joyful Mind. Comprised of twelve solo piano compositions, the album features exquisitely elegant arrangements of both religious carols and secular holiday songs of varying moods and tones that range from delightfully cheery to solemnly reverent.

The album opens with an Italian Christmas carol composed by Pietro Yon in 1917 entitled “Gesu Bambino”, as it moves along at a brisk yet leisurely pace. The next piece is a traditional French carol entitled “Sing We Now of Christmas”, which boasts a beautifully expressive yet contemplative arrangement. Here, Asberry transitions smoothly from subtly starker chords in the lower register to more glistening notes in the higher register, before perfectly wrapping up the piece in a mysterious, minor-key figure. Likewise, Asberry impressively contrasts the deeper moods of pieces like these with that of more jubilant songs such as “Over the River and Through the Wood”, which showcases a delightfully carefree melody set to a gentle waltzing pace. This lovely piece evokes images of a sunny winter wonderland with its intermittently-placed, lightly twirling notes deftly mimicking snowflakes falling to the ground. One of my favorite pieces on the album is Asberry’s magnificent rendering of the 13th century French carol “March of the Kings”. Opening in a formidable manner with boldly striking chords, the composition eventually moves into a feathery, twinkly bridge towards the latter part, before gradually receding into its initially darker motif. Not surprisingly, with Asberry having formerly led a church choir from organ, those roots come through quite evidently on this remarkable piece, as one can easily imagine the reverent sound of the pipe organ (or in this case, her piano) reverberating throughout the church halls.

Likewise, Pam Asberry renders a couple of more accessibly familiar Christmas tunes such as “Away in a Manger” and “White Christmas”. However, overall she’s opted for more out-of-the-box and less frequently covered pieces here, which is a defining characteristic of the album that I especially enjoyed. Easily one of this year’s favorite holiday albums, Thankful Heart, Joyful Mind musically conveys both a reverence and cheerfulness that will surely delight the senses all season long! ~Candice Michelle

For more information please visit the artist's website. This album is also available on Bandcamp, Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby and Google Play.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Album Review: Beyond Measures & Time by Steve Rivera

Beyond Measures & Time is the follow-up album to pianist and composer Steve Rivera’s critically-acclaimed debut release entitled Dividing the Darkness. Whereas his prior album featured piano ensemble pieces that were variably accompanied by strings, horns and gentle percussion, Beyond Measures & Time is comprised entirely of eleven contemplatively engaging solo piano compositions, of which only further highlights the immense beauty of Steve’s signature compositional style. I’m also quite fond of the album’s captivating artwork with its slightly steampunk edge, which seems slightly out-of-the-box – yet very fitting – for the album’s overall concept.

Fittingly introducing this album is the gently contemplative “Suspended Dream”, which seemingly conveys a feeling of gradually waking up to sense the warm glow of a morning sunlight. One of my favorite pieces herein is the classical-accented second track “Passing Shadows”, which opens with softly-twirling figures in the higher register that eventually give way to a somewhat brighter yet contemplative melody, before eventually reverting to the composition’s initial motif. My absolute favorite piece however is the nocturnal and shadowy ninth track “Dark Tides”, which aptly conveys an overall darker undercurrent. Seemingly flowing along in a continuum with no defined beginning or end, this subtle piece dreamily drifts along like a boat sailing the waters, as it effectively alludes to both literal and metaphorical interpretations of ‘dark tides’.

Whereas many piano players who market their music as ‘new age’ will often tend to avoid touching on darker moods and emotions, Steve Rivera’s tenderly introspective compositions perfectly elicit both light and shadowy atmospheres with a command of dynamics that is rarely heard. And while Beyond Measures & Time frequently touches on more sensitive emotions throughout – both musically and thematically – ultimately, it is an album which conveys a satisfying sense of hope, comfort and fortitude! ~Candice Michelle

For more information please visit the artist's website. This album is also available at Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby and Google Play.

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Sherry Finzer

We’re excited to debut our first audio interview with renowned flutist, composer and Heart Dance Records label founder, Sherry Finzer. A versatile musician who currently resides in Anthem, Arizona, she’s released several solo and collaborative albums that can be heard regularly on both Journeyscapes and Aural Awakenings, with her signature style spanning ambient, world, new age and contemporary instrumental musical genres. In this enjoyable segment, we’ll learn more about Sherry Finzer, as we delve into her musical background, discuss current projects and various collaborations, as well as play some of her music!



Thursday, November 1, 2018

Top 25 Albums for October 2018

Presented in alphabetical order by artist name.

Artist Name Album Title Label
2002 A World Away Galactic Playground Music
Aidia A Beautiful Fall Kevin Keller Productions
Alan Matthews The Ineffable Alan Matthews
Alexandra Stréliski Inscape Secret City Records
Briana Di Mara Haven Briana Di Mara
Deva Premal Deva White Swan
Gareth Laffely & Lance Bendiksen ft. Wes Voices of the Guardians Roaring Brook
Gary Schmidt Even for A Moment Heart Dance Records
Jim Brickman Soothe, Vol. 4: Subzero Odeon Records Limited
Jim Wilson Remembrance: A Collection of Cinematic Portraits Willow Bay Music
Ken Verheecke Between Earth & Sky Heart Dance
Kimberly Haynes In Dreams Wise Old Owl Records
Komie Afterglow Komie
Lena Natalia Lonely Satellite ATELIER RLS
Marcia Watson Bendo Woodland Moons Marcia Watson Bendo
Michael Logozar  Passage Michael Logozar
Michelle Qureshi Short Stories Music as Metaphor
Monica Williams Journey of Tears Heart Dance Records
Peter Sterling Magic Kingdom Harp Magic Music
Rick Wakeman Piano Odyssey Sony Masterworks
Ron Korb World Café Humbledragon Entertainment
Ryan Judd An Open Sky Two Owls Music
Sherry Finzer  Acceptance  Heart Dance Records
Steve Rivera Beyond Measures & Time Steve Rivera
White Sun White Sun III Be Why