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There is something exciting about discovering someone new on the
New Age Piano circuit who blows the listener away with their
magical piano playing. This is most certainly the case with
Karen Marie Garrett's second CD, one that features mainly
original compositions.
Tip-Toe Dancer opens the twelve track CD, and what a gorgeous
way to begin. I am not famed for my dancing, but this piece
makes me want to get up and start dancing around the room! The
melody is simply beautiful from start to finish.
This track has been extremely popular, and Karen
Marie Garrett is rapidly making quite a name for herself in the
music circuit.
Whereas Tip-Toe Dancer is a most uplifting piece, the
second track, Lake Ewok Muse, is most mournful. It
combines piano and cello to devastating effect. As Karen
explains herself in the linear notes, "This
improvisational piece followed a sunrise meditation
beside Lake Ewok at the Skywalker Ranch. The serene
setting of the lake and the wildlife were breathtaking."
The third track, Simple Things, is another
favourite. Very delicate, as perhaps the title
would suggest, it is lovely to listen to from
beginning to end. Welcome B is yet another
special track, in a CD that is full of
highlights. Another beautiful melody that the
listener will want to hear time and time again.
Tracks 7 through to 9 pay homage to the great
Erik Satie with three pieces: Gnossienne No. 1,
2 and 3.
The founder of the legendary Windham Hill
Records empire, Will Ackerman, produced this
album, and Karen clearly feels indebted to him.
She dedicates the album's tenth track to her
mentor. "Will's Song" is another improvisation.
Whilst warming up the concert grand in the
studio, Will was being interviewed in the Green
Room. A melody suddenly came Karen's way, which
she developed there and then. She quickly asked
the engineer to start recording, and the second
cut became the complete song. In her
dedications, Karen says, "To Will: Thank you for
helping me find where the music is coming from
and to not be afraid to share the music I feel
with others." With clearly genuine appreciation
and admiration in equal measure, she goes on to
say, "Thank you for becoming my mentor; this
project would not have been possible without
you."
The
CD closes with a reprisal of the second track- this time
solo piano. It is gorgeous.
This
really is an outstanding CD. I give it my highest
recommendation and feel blessed to have discovered it.
There is also excellent news for fans of Karen- as well
as the 2007 release of
It's About the Rose, a new CD is
in the pipe-line featuring plenty of piano / cello, and
is scheduled for a 2009 release.
S.C.
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