New Age Music World

Archive for the ‘Instrumental Music’ Category

During times of war most sovereign nations remain dependent on men and women serving in the military for defense and protection of their country. While protecting the freedoms and individual rights of private citizens, returning soldiers acquire imbedded memories that last a lifetime and clearly the grandest memory of them all is during the homecoming when they are happily reunited with their families.

Peter Jennison is a U.S. Army Captain and MEDEVAC helicopter pilot returning from active duty during the war in Iraq with revealing memories he witnessed from a firsthand perspective. From this experience, Peter Jennison began to compose music.

An American living at home in Florida now, his latest CD composed during the time period he served in Iraq is meant to evoke imagery of the conflict as a more peaceful musical experience for every listener, along with providing renewing therapy for soldiers and families upon their return home from service.

Longing For Home (Songs From War) is a New Age Contemporary Instrumental release Peter Jennison composed for piano with renown musicians supplying refined instrumentals in most of the 10 songs.

This album also has the notation of being a Will Ackerman production and with Corin Nelsen providing the mixing and mastering, their GRAMMY© Award-winning expertise can be perceived as a winning strategy by the quality work they produce.

Peter Jennison, in another strategic move enlisted highly recognized artists on his album including Jeff Haynes on percussion, Eugene Friesen on cello and Steve Schuch on violin. In addition, Will Ackerman performs on guitar in one song and vocalist Noah Wilding gives soft vocals on two songs. Longing For Home is some of the last performances given by the late Tom “ T-Bone “ Wolk, a highly regarded multi instrumentalist remembered in part by his outstanding talents.

War is a song with lighter phases in the beginning that build with increasing drama as piano, violin and percussion recreate a battlefield image during a dramatic illustration projected within the musical arrangement. Peter Jennison’s illustration is shown by a precise context by increasing tempo and percussion rhythms that project distant artillery rounds. The song’s imagery of chest moving recoil from artillery rounds and ejected shell casings makes it seem all too real.

Peter Jennison composed his album with much regard to stories from the heart and mind. This is apparent in his compositions where most songs portraying a tranquil atmosphere with a strong sense of drama and emotion can be easily felt and is consistent, during his solo piano expressions and in songs with instrumental refrains.

Performing on a Steinway B, the emotional feel of 4 Solo Piano songs; Hold Me in Your Heart, The Promise, Anthem & Longing For Home ( Title Song ) are classic and uplifting yet each one holds a certain melancholy as if telling of the days spent apart from family and the extra weight of uncertainty this carries.

The piano and instrumentals of violin during Time Passage convey this more poignant feeling where piano, cello and bass in High Mountain Dreams has a more relaxed atmosphere.

The song Desert Storms has a bass guitar and piano duet which band together as one. A wonderful piano melody combined with guitar, violin and tenor vocals in The One breaks into a resolute wave of harmony. With everything considered, it is music empowered to portray the sentiment the majority of us will never experience firsthand.

Longing For Home (Songs From War) is told from a U.S. soldier’s perspective, made more real since this story is voluntarily given by someone who has honorably faced and met the challenges war can bring. Recounting American men and women risking all in service to their country, reverent tribute is given to those lives we honor in memorandum of, while celebrating the virtues of every U.S. soldier as a private citizen and beloved family member who has served their country.

Visit Peter Jennison’s Facebook page. You can sample or purchase at his Amazon.com page or CDBaby.com page.

Note: A portion of the proceeds from every album sold will be given to charities that support veterans and their families.

Picture copyright BigStockPhoto.com – JustASC.

Much like the seasonal changes we encounter daily at various locations around the world, many musicians I encounter have their own change in atmosphere in relation to the music they produce.  Their adaptations in style and structure can sometimes be expected to a degree, but most times it is tempered just like the weather and cannot be easily predicted.

Matt Millecchia is a great example of a guitar player making a more profound change in his performance style by releasing of all things, a new age album.  Currently residing in New York, Matt is most acclimated to performances with various metal rock, punk and folk bands over the past 20 years and really not a matter of being a hot to cold disparity by this, but this departure certainly is polarizing.  Interestingly, he is also a senior engineer who takes precision measurements on one of the most powerful lasers ever produced so is uniquely familiar with the technical aspects of extremes.

Silhouette of a Season is his more equalizing new age contemporary instrumental debut with 12 original compositions featuring Matt on 4 solo guitar songs.  Employing another key change in style, he specializes in the flat-pick method of acoustic guitar verses a more common finger style and has also enlisted notable artists most will recognize.

Taking the legendary journey to Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont, GRAMMY® Winner and founder of Windham Hill Records Will Ackerman has produced and performs guitar with Matt on two songs.  Another GRAMMY® Award-winner Corin Nelsen engineered, mixed and mastered this album so the quality shines by their expertise, plus the all inclusive list of top musicians on various songs which includes Michael Manring on bass, Eugene Friesen on cello, the late T-Bone Wolk on bass and accordion, Derrik Jordan on electric violin and percussion, Jeff Oster on flugelhorn, Steve Schuch on acoustic violin, and Samite on flute.

Silhouette of a Season shows a natural beauty in composition and performance while dramatizing a glowing atmosphere during each of the 12 songs placed mainly in a moderate tempo.   All have a pleasing feel of radiance and song Arrivials is the first prelude into the many qualities you will experience on the entire album.  Orchestra and electric violins provide a swaying motion while guitars evenly enhance this refined image by counter rhythms and then again in a more pronounced Summer Tears.

Antietam Spring is a light introspective song where accordion and guitar inscribe a peaceful feeling while achieving a pleasing sense of intrigue and perhaps only natural given the interesting choice in instrumental harmonies.

The guitar pairing of flugelhorn in Mist and cello in Acid Lake are like the percussion, guitar and flute instrumentals in Sphynx where each artist imparts their proficient expressions while revealing the fine naturalistic atmosphere envisioned for each song.

Matt Millecchia takes a graceful departure apart from more familiar genres by the 4 solo guitar improvisations of Georgia Springs, Expectations, August Eclipse & Moonset and while adapting this gentle change of seasons with over 20 years of experience and by using the flat-pick method without sub-rhythm overdubbing.  The transition is made solid by a fine performance, along with his artistic stance on the evenly represented concepts of harmony.

Silhouette of a Season is an album anyone can become acclimated with every single day of the year and since the glorious presentation given by every musician transposes a fine exploration in atmosphere, their precise harmonies bring to light an integral shine for success which to me, turns out to be an even more predictable quality.

Visit mattmillecchia.com to sample / purchase or at his CDBaby.com page.  Learn more about Matt on his biography page.

Photo copyright Matt Millecchia and Cover courtesy of Marcia Birken.

Acoustic Ocean has just released a fine new follow up to their debut release Light Returning and like many of the relaxing destinations of Hawaii where the musicians reside and the song titles suggest, becomes a restful retreat into music that tells of the natural beauty one would experience on the islands for themselves.

Since the founding team members of Acoustic Ocean are skilled therapists and all 4 performers on the album live in Hawaii, their unique perspective with daily experiences of island living have helped recreate the relaxing atmosphere for you.

Reflections on Still Water is a New Age, Contemporary Instrumental album retaining a great sense of calm by 9 original compositions and 1 spiritual melody of instrumental beauty that is clearly prominent from the very beginning.

Peggy Morgan and Bette Phelan, as the former folk singer-songwriting duo Morgan & Phelan, toured together for 20 years performing in the US and abroad at a wide variety of venues which numbers in the thousands. 

Over the past two decades together their music has been featured on television along with aquiring widespread radio airplay, receiving awards and notoriety over the years before founding the New Age artist title we recognize today.

The year 2008 first marked the beginning of Acoustic Ocean and while the genre may have changed, their style in creating original works of relaxing music has fortunately remained constant.   Peggy and Bette are both certified Kripalu Yoga teachers, therapists and have specialized skills in many areas related to stress management so their better living skills enabled a well suited entrance into the New Age genre.

On this album the team has enlisted Kay Aldrich playing cello on 3 songs and Anne Berliner on flute in 1 song which turns their wonderful instrumentation into another perspective of beauty.

The album cover shown in Reflections on Still Water gives you a visual hint of the elemental beauty you will hear, plus with the primary instrumentals of Celtic harp, Dulcimer, mandolin, acoustic guitar and fretless bass, the mental images of this restful destination reflect an even clearer picture, translating into a relaxing sound experience all within easy reach of the imagination.

Visit acousticoceanmusic.com to sample / purchase or their CDBaby.com page.  Learn more about this team at their morganandphelan.com website.  Cover photo copyright Bette Phelan.

Recently I announced an interview with Mars Lasar. Today let’s explore Mars Lasar’s best New Age album with a beautiful Jazz influence. Its a great album whose tonal qualities set the stage for a memorable Jazz experience.

Mars Lasar has a diverse discography ranging from New Age, Electronic, Contemporary Instrumental, World, Jazz, Ambient, Chill Out, Classical, and a host of sub genres that are so unique they have yet to be classified. This revered man of many talents has touched the lives of millions of people with his diverse music while showcasing his innovative abilities during his lengthy career as a professional musician, along with his many related artistic endeavors.

At The End Of The Day creates a wonderful example since Classic Jazz music is introduced to New Age music in a manner that I felt lends itself to a high society level of sophistication, yet it is delivered in an easy going approachable manner that gives one a relaxing right at home feel of comfort.

This should give you some insight about what is in store for you, and how effective Mars Lasar is with creating beauty from contrasting images, yet there is so much more to discover from this album, plus the full scope of his vast discography.

Mars Lasar layers his mixing production talents to full advantage on every song in this Contemporary Jazzy 10 track album that highlights his artistic abilities in a just right, toast of the town in house feel. His fans will adore this release, being such a strong example of what they love, recognize, and have come to expect from Mars. Here we find soulful saxophone driven melodies, considerately subdued from completely stealing the show while keyboard, flute, and guitar melodies prove themselves just as capable while taking a turn in the solo instrumental spotlight. The song Uptown is a favorite among his fans who already own the album. Perhaps they recognize this fine song as one of his best since fusion between old school Jazz and Contemporary Jazz are intertwined to reach a playful commingling of the two styles.

Mars Lasar has an enduring ability to captivate an audience with his music by personal adaptability, mindful at using technical leverage, while also generating a creative spark of imagination. I believe these skills, plus his strive for perfection is how Mars can offer a higher level of versatility simply not present with many artists within many genres.

The song Warm Nights is a mid tempo, Jazz festival of fun, where guitar and percussion first set an atmosphere like a playful night in a downtown club. Just like we are there on location, I can imagine an illustrated solo saxophone player sharp and colorfully dressed, playing a warmly lit tune that contrasts well with the darker shades in note phrasing heard in the beginning measures of tonal imagery.

The colorful music is noted by the upward raised saxophone and soulful eyes closed expression made during the opening woodwind solo.

If you try you can imagine the seated piano player is all smiles while making their keyboard runs in distinct counter beat with saxophone while upper octave piano notes twinkle in unison, exactly as our solo performers glance at one another to give a quick nod and wink of approval.

Come And Join Us is a nicely done new age jazz mix with an inviting tone that keeps the momentum going in a positive upbeat direction.

When the bass cello player starts this in house session with a resonating pluck of the strings and then several spins of the cello, the rhythm is set by the warmer tones and expertly delivered bass runs that capture the crowd’s approval right from the beginning.

Joining in the session, piano and flute quickly step forward to contribute their fragrant ambiance by taking turns during moments of improvisation while the crowd waves their raised hands back and forth to the beat.

I can even picture everyone moving closer to the stage as our saxophone player once again steps into the spotlight with a dramatic solo while flute makes note filled runs, then several trills during each refrain as percussion places their cymbal taps and well timed snare beats with exacting precision.

While listening to this album it’s easy to visualize every instrument sparkling brightly under the lighting while all players make their runs through the scales in this album having an uptown beat, capturing the moment and memories for the entire evening in the final closing notes. Then, as everyone slowly starts to leave and the band begins to pack, it is pretty clear the audience was captivated by the sights, sounds, and sensations, after just having heard this Jazz influenced album produced by Mars Lasar that mirrors the very ultimate in the downtown Jazz experience.

Let me introduce the players who performed on this (studio produced) album on the Sound Manipulations label. Let’s give a big round of applause for Mars Lasar, Nicholas Gunn who played flute, and the vocalist. The guitarists include Winslow Crockwell, Jeff Burak and Carlos Villalobos. Greg Vail played the saxophone and flute. This is a list of the artists homepage: Visit nicholasgunn.com, carlosvillalobos.com and gregvail.com.

Visit MarsLasar.com and sample or purchase at Amazon.com. Picture copyright Big Stock Photo – mhurwich.

Vicki Logan has a history of composing and producing outstanding New Age music from the very beginning of her music career. It seems Vicki charts a new direction with every album she produces. By incorporating elements of New Age, Classical, Pop, Jazz, Contemporary Instrumental, plus a divine gift of creativity, Finding My Way, along with her entire discography does set a high standard for her future projects.

Vicki Logan’s second album titled Finding My Way on her Carvic label achieved a top 100 album rating, airing on over 700 online radio stations worldwide. The song Enchanted Winds did arrive at a top # 1 song in AOL Radio for an astounding 21 weeks, reaching the final destination with high ratings.

Charting a course as a new musician has never been easy for any artist and by no fault of her own, Vicki has had her share of unforeseen detours and roadblocks along the way, but her professional drive and spirited ambition has led the way to increasing popularity and recognition along her adventurous journey.

Finding My Way is the title Vicki chose for this album since it describes a representation or timeline of where Vicki felt she was in relation to her music career. With that said, her timeless New Age classics have found their way to many people’s hearts and minds with the winning combination of solo performances of piano, flute, saxophone, and guitar along side synthesized representations.

The song Pegasus reveals the exhilarating flight of a mythological horse free, unbridled, and floating weightless during the ride of a lifetime of chasing dreams, gently leaving a trail of puffy white clouds in it’s wake. The bass percussion sprints ahead in tempo while piano melody vigorously runs through the scales in an inspirational message about undaunted courage. When Xylophone makes an impromptu entrance, it becomes pretty clear by the lively solo response that this winged horse desires freedom most, having made all the right moves to evade capture by any mere mortal.

My Mother’s Memories is a symbolic song tribute one can easily compare to a mother’s loving embrace. This hymn of love is shown through a classic piano movement complete with angelic choir vocals that emphasize the content of her character and humanity, clearly stated by the pronounced reverent atmosphere.

The emotional tale of a mother’s lifetime of memories is passionately recalled from one family generation to the next by a heart felt piano narration, where her praiseworthy commitment of giving becomes apparent while recalling the eventful past.

Then, almost as if waiting in respectful attention for the proper moment to arrive, something truly amazing happens.

In a heart felt solo performance, an all encompassing trumpet respectfully announces mother’s grand entrance onto the world stage in a proud anthem, as if honoring all deserving Mothers with a standing ovation of praise.

As if rising to the occasion during this profound moment of tribute and recognition, the choir validates through their own voice the unconditional love and support all caring Mothers around the world have given during their lifetime.

Discovering the positive and inspiring music of Vicki Logan and then writing about this New Age artist who is so passionate about their music has been personally rewarding. Having the opportunity to meet this friendly and outgoing musician by our recent interview together has been an honor.

Read my reviews of her 4 albums and our interview on my pages for Vicki Logan. Visit VickiLogan.com website and sample Vicki Logan’s CD albums at CDBaby. Picture copyright Big Stock Photo – Xmasbaby.

Once again we shine the spotlight on the time tested music of Vicki Logan, who has recently revealed her thought and artistic perceptions by my recent interview. You will find that The Ride is one of my all time favorite albums. I hope this will encourage you to listen what this gifted artist is offering the music world.

Vicki Logan has 4 impressive albums to date, with The Ride as the third successful release on her Carvic Publishing label from 2004, winning a place in the New Age Reporter, now called Zone Music Reporter, Top 100 albums chart.

Personally drawn from her self conclusions about the ride everyone must travel during our day to day life experiences, this album has also held positions in some additional top 100 charts and granted impressive online radio airplay attention worldwide.

The Ride is considered inspirational and emotional by recalling the exhilarating roller coaster like moments in life, to times of eminent cross road decisions where one must faithfully reach out for everything life has to offer, or risk losing an opportunity if we choose to remain in the much safer realm of not ever taking a chance at all. There is also a calming and relaxed atmosphere to her music as if acknowledging contentment in knowing that we have tried and are justly rewarded for having done our personal best. This is the easiest way to describe how her upbeat music makes me feel.

Vicki Logan’s own description is related to the passage of time and how she has experienced progress while composing and producing music, so everyone if free to draw their own self conclusions about how this album makes them feel on a personal level, but believe me, you will feel something positive from her music. Incorporating elements of New Age pop, jazz, and R & B music influences, Vicki Logan provides the listener a fresh perspective beginning with a classic piano piece.

This album is an excellent example of what can be achieved when a talented artist shares a part of themselves by putting their heart and spirit into the creation of their music, offering music lovers a chance to also feel something truly special along the way. You will soon find yourself recalling the melody over and over in your mind daily.

The Ride is primarily mid tempo instrumental throughout, enhanced by individual solo performances of saxophone, piano, guitar, and the wondrous flute, which Vicki plays so passionately.  Incorporating elements of New Age pop, jazz, and R & B influences provides the listener a fresh perspective beginning with a classic piano piece. Track 1 The Dance of the Sun has a heartfelt piano melody with background synthesizer starting a new beginning of an adventure into your earliest observations of what to anticipate further down this musical journey.

Track 5 Just to be With You offers a harmonious rhythmic ballad that intertwines electronic and saxophone solo into a singular peaceful existence upon adding the engaging percussion beat for blending everything together dramatically. Track 6 The Ride is one of many favorites being New Age pop in theme. This memorable up tempo song with heart pounding rhythms, unbounded keyboard rides, and perfectly timed percussion is truly something to behold on it’s own. Then upon adding the flowing flute melody, everything fits together so perfectly in the instrumental arrangement, you will soon find yourself recalling the melody over and over in your mind daily.

Track 8 Finding Freedom is a thought provoking song from this spirited American artist, having deep rhythms, driving percussion, and building flute repertoire which inspire and restore your faith in the very notion of individual freedoms in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as if saying, yes we can! with that said, Vicki Logan’s upbeat music is a true winner!

Visit the VickiLogan.com website. Sample the album at CDBaby and read my interview with Vicki Logan.