Browsing Tag

pianist

Inspired by lockdown: ‘Kindred Spirits’ from pianist Craig Sutcliffe warms the heart

Posted on 12 November 2020

This is a wonderful instrumental-only full album from a pianist who was inspired by the words from a lady in the crowd. She told him to not keep this stunning music to himself and to get it out there into the world. He did just that. Who knew that playing a small Meditation Session would leave such a last impression.

‘Kindred Spirits‘ from pianist Craig Sutcliffe is a wonderful album that portrays so much peace and pureness. With a thoughtful melody in each song, we are taken on a journey that helps so much during these dark times.

This is the 5th studio release from Craig Sutcliffe and there are so many highlights here. The top tracks here are ‘Drift Away‘, ‘City Lights‘ and ‘Magical Life’. The marvelously created riffs are like a butterfly landing on your shoulder when you are sad. You forget about your worries for a few moments and remember that life has so many beautiful moments to enjoy.

”The inspiration behind the album was the many Kindred Spirits who come into our life and help us along our journey. Some stay for a short while and some forever.”- Craig Sutcliffe

Hear this lovely music on the Spotify page and find out more on Facebook.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Sonophonix drive us ‘Crazy In Love’ with their latest single

Posted on 5 October 2020
https://vimeo.com/461511090

Commencing with a beautiful, arpeggiated piano motif before being joined by the deep, sonorous swell of cello, ‘Crazy In Love’ is a beautiful, haunting piece, an instrumental duet of resonant, musical artistry and elegance that showcases the talents of two incredible musicians.

Pianist Deborah Robb and cellist Xue Yang Liu met while students at the Mannes School of Music at the New School in New York City.  While attending Mannes they performed chamber music together and were members of the Mannes American Composers Ensemble (MACE) under the direction of composer Lowell Liebermann.  Their Sonophonix duo merges their composing, arranging and improvisation skills, and ‘Crazy In Love’ is a perfect example of their art, allowing each performer the personal space to breathe whilst intertwining their individual contributions into something altogether greater, a delicate, mellow, composition of refinement and elegance that transcends the classical genre and becomes something altogether of its own.

Crazy In Love can be heard from the Sonophonix website.

Review by Alex Holmes

Kaitlin Puccio plays with incredible elegance on the piano-infused ‘La Cloche En Verre’

Posted on 14 September 2020

Kaitlin Puccio plays with such incredible elegance on the perfect piano-infused new single called ‘La Cloche En Verre‘.

La Cloche En Verre means The Bell Jar in French and we are blessed to have this beautiful song in our ears for 2020. The skill level is tremendous and I feel like this is a pianist who plays for love, she loves music so much. The passion shows.

Kaitlin is a model, actress, and singer-songwriter with a style that is so elegant. This classy musician dazzles here on this wonderful song. According to Spotify, if you like Ludovico Einaudi, Hans Zimmer, and Beethoven, you’ll like this. The great thing about this single is that the track builds and builds, taking you on a journey to discover what you are deep inside your soul.

‘La Cloche En Verre‘ is such a fine track that is wonderfully created by the incredible Kaitlin Puccio. She is such a skilled pianist and is simply beautiful on this song that didn’t need vocals. This is one song to sit back with and to be enjoyed when you need to take some time out from this wild dumpster fire of 2020. True beauty always wins eventually.

Click here for the Soundcloud page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Ukranian Composer and Pianist Olexandr Ignatov explores the human psyche with their 2020 album “Messages”

Posted on 10 September 2020

Ukrainian composer, producer and pianist Olexandr Ignatov has countless accolades to their name. After the release of their Neo-Classic album “Messages”, they can also be proud to have their name behind one of the most stunning albums of 2020.

Each composition invites you to explore a different emotion, Patience, Empathy, Temperance, Loyalty, Trust, the track which hit the evocative spot the hardest for us was undoubtedly “Struggle”.

The precision in timing between the notes is almost otherworldly in the way it sets trepidation, torment and a spiralling sense of despair. Yet, it can’t be said that the piece was without any sense of beauty and resilience. It’s the perfect reminder that if you’re struggling, you’re still fighting and not all hope is lost. And with that revelation, I might have a little cry.

Struggle is available to stream via Spotify with the rest of their ground-breaking album.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pianist Barry C. Humphreys plays with so much heart on ‘I Know You’ve Come to Say Goodbye’

Posted on 2 September 2020

Pianist Barry C. Humphreys is back with his brand new song called ‘I Know You’ve Come to Say Goodbye‘.

Born and raised in the Bay Area of Northern California, Barry C. Humphreys displayed a natural talent for piano at a very young age. After just a few years of learning how to play, he was soon able to play anything by ear. He could simply take a request and play it without the aid of any written music. Soon after, Barry began to play his own compositions. Family and friends would often gather around the piano to hear his own beautiful melodies. His private shows became an important part of any family reunion as listeners would call out for beloved favorites. Barry currently lives in Eastern North Carolina with his wife of 54 years and continues to create beautiful music with heart.

‘I Know You’ve Come to Say Goodbye‘ from Barry C. Humphreys is a heart-felt song about the end of a relationship. You hoped that things would be okay but things have turned up a lonely alley. The piano skills from this well-respected pianist is of top quality as usual and you feel the pain in this song. A fine effort.

Click here for the Soundcloud page.

Head through to the Facebook page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Latvian pianist Ieva Dubova stuns with hauntingly beautiful ”Avu Avu”

Posted on 27 June 2020
Avu Avu by Ieva Dubova

Ieva Dubova is a Latvian pianist and composer known for her experimental new age approach to classical piano music. This is a style that I have never heard before and my ears are so transfixed. I feel that I am hearing an absolute master at work here. The sounds are chilling and played with such skill and you can tell that many years of practice took place. This music is totally cinematic with influences that my mind can’t even fathom.

Ieva’s upcoming album ‘’Reverie” will be released in August and this is hotly anticipated. This is a part of a set of pieces called ”Ainavas”. This masterpiece is inspired by Latvian landscapes of the City of Gaujiena, folk music and the poetry of Ojars Vacietis.

Ieva Dubova is currently staying in London and I will definitely turn my attention to live piano music when venues open up again. I’m fascinated by this artist and can’t wait immerse myself further into this world. ”Avu Avu” has changed my outlook on this underrated genre of music and it’s such a quality track.

Stream this song on Bandcamp now.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Composer and Pianist JxPrezzo Has Released Their Tenderly Explorative 4-Track EP “Seven Years”

Posted on 26 June 2020

London-based composer and pianist JxPrezzo has crafted four delicately unique Neo-Classic soundscapes for their latest instrumental EP “Seven Years”.

After an intro track which is all too efficacious at pulling you into the release, you get to the title track which is the best example of how JxPrezzo’s tender melodies can tell a story. From tentative, explorative notes which ring with optimism to stabbing atmospheric dread, Seven Years is a deftly-orchestrated evocative rollercoaster.

As you listen to the light yet fluid textures in the soundscape, you can almost feel the tension in your body being replaced with the quiescently comforting tones. But if you’re as aurally sensitive as me, when the minor notes are hit, you won’t just hear them, you’ll feel them. My eyes may now sting a little, but that’s a small price to pay for experiencing such a gentle yet resounding release.

You can check out the Seven Years EP for yourselves by heading over to Apple Music or SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sidetrack Walker – Will to Leave: Viscerally Atmospheric Progressive Neo-Classical

Posted on 15 May 2020
https://sidetrackwalker.bandcamp.com/track/will-to-leave

Berlin-based artist Sidetrack Walker has released their most captivating soundscape to date. Expect the human psyche to stare back at you when you hit play on Will to Leave which is just one of the tracks found on their latest album The Art of Starvation.

The Neo-Classical melodies perfectly capture tense, fraught and honest emotion. Under Sidetrack Walker’s deft orchestration, the progressions spill more resonance than even the most meta of lyrics ever could.

But what blew me away the most about Will to Leave was the sheer distinction. Sidetrack Walker’s tendency to pull from a myriad of genres such as Neo-Classical, Dark Folk and Prog Rock allowed their sound to spill an alchemic amount of atmospheric intensity.

You can stream and download Sidetrack Walker’s single Will to Leave along with the rest of their album which was released on April 24th for yourselves via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

PUNCHiE – Mon Cheri – Surprisingly Delicate Piano Melodies That Will Take You On A Pleasing Journey Through Sound.

Posted on 2 November 2017

When I first read the artist’s name, as I was about to click on his Soundcloud page to listen to his track, I must admit, I was expecting something completely different. The artist’s moniker led me to assume this was going to be some kind of electronic music or hip-hop with a…well, punchy tone!

However, I was really pleasantly surprised when I found out that Mon Cheri is far from what I was assuming I’d find! The track is a stunning piano composition, which makes me think of the work of artists such as Ludovico Einaudi or Alexandre Desplat, just to mention but a few. Punchie is arguably an accomplished pianist, and this track stands as a testament of the artist’s incredibly gifted musicianship and prowess with the instrument. The song has a sweet, soft and direct tone, which grows in intensity and swings seamlessly from featuring a few, quite note, to entrancing listeners with a waterfall of melodic, swirling notes that are almost dancing in the air!