Music Review: Collection of Americana Songs.
With the Memorial Day weekend nearing, Americans across the United States will be honoring service men and women who have given their lives while serving their country. Memorial Day is likewise a holiday weekend when people travel across America, and experience the cultural diversity that is present in each of the 50 united states.
Composing pianist Joey Curtin has produced a tribute album about the American experience entitled Soundtrack for America. The release is a wonderful collection of Americana music where she, co-producer Marc Cooper, and guest artists portray the diverse culture we share as Americans musically. Joey Curtin is a great musician as is Marc Cooper, president of Coop Deville Records, and musician who has performed with Steve Howe, Joe Walsh, Jan Ackerman, and other popular artists.
Soundtrack for America, first released in 2008, is a unique album with a diverse portion of music influences which has been featured on Public Radio and Folk Music stations across America and a number of countries. Soundtrack for America is also a music recording recently inducted into the Dolph Brisco History collection in Austin, Texas.
Soundtrack for America is a collection of 13 Americana songs arranged to tell a story by varying music styles, beginning with my favorite melody, The Immigrant Song. The first piano and instrumental song is beautifully performed, and contains elements of cinematic music. You will find Native American music influences present in the song Wampanoag, before traversing a Jazz influence in Swing Low Sweet Chariot.
There are enjoyable versions of the hymns God Bless America, Amazing Grace, and the thunderous Battle Hymn Of The Republic. Although the album was produced several years ago, Soundtrack for America is a wonderful song collection highlighting the cultural diversity of music, people, and places in America.
Joey Curtin’s most current solo piano album entitled Going to California is an excellent cover arrangement of solo piano music by legendary artists like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Coldplay, Bob Dylan, Steve Winwood and The Who.
Visit JoeyCurtin.com and CoopDeville.com to find Soundtrack for America and to learn more about Joey Curtin and Marc Cooper. Photos are courtesy joeycurtin.com.