Review: Kathryn Kaye – Reflected in a Flowing Stream

Kathryn Kaye – REFLECTED IN A FLOWING STREAM:  If you love nothing more than solid solo piano work, you will find this upcoming January 2017 release to be (decidedly) among your new favorites.  As I sit here listening to the marvelously calming tones on the 4:46 opening track, “A Lark in the Last Light of Day“, it’s very easy for me to visualize and feel the descending of night over a backwoods creek where my grandfather used to fish for brook trout… it’s really very hard to describe in words just how well Kathryn captured that feeling… so listen to the sample and “hear what I mean”.

I knew (from previous promo sheets and reviews I’d done) that Kathryn was from Kentucky, but didn’t realize that she was, indeed, a “coal miner’s daughter”… she actually began playing keyboards at the tender age of four, and progressed all the way from playing at churches, county fairs and other local events to fully-trained classical singer and pianist on stages in Germany.  That classical background matches up perfectly with the eleven all-original compositions on this splendid release, as you’ll hear when you listen to my personal favorite solo piano song (yet) for 2017, the title track, “Reflected in a Flowing Stream“…  again, it’s easy to see sonic images of events and emotions that have carried you to this point in your life as you listen to this enchanting piece… the integration of string and horn sounds is pure wizardry!

You can hear samples of all the songs on Kathryn’s SoundCloud page for the album… a very impressive set that uses strings, horns and guitars to bring far more life than you’re used to hearing on solo piano albums… just listen to the deep tones on “Winter’s Deepest Sleep” to be convinced that you must have this album in your collection!  I give Kathryn a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of (a perfect) 5.00 – meaning that she also gets a “PICK” for “most inspiring piano-led album”.  Get more information at Kathryn’s website!  (be sure and tell her you read about her here, too, please)!       Rotcod Zzaj

Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews
Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews
Dick Metcalf (aka Rotcod Zzaj) is a globe-hopping musician and poet who spent many years roving the world until he finally settled in his current abode, Lacey, Washington... just down the road from Seattle. He started IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION magazine in 1990 (still being published), and Contemporary Fusion Reviews magazine in 2016. He also was a keyboard player & singer for many years... you can hear (and download for free) many of those works at his "Internet Archive Collection". If you'd like to support our efforts and get something in return, there are also a few of these albums for sale on the Rotcod Zzaj BandCamp site"

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Dick—Thank you for a wonderful review of my new album, REFLECTED IN A FLOWING STREAM. I’m honored and humbled, and really appreciate your obvious familiarity with the music, and the time you took to write about it in depth.

    Happiness in the New Year,
    Kathryn Kaye

  2. Kathryn – the pleasure was mine, truly! It is music like yours that can (and, I believe, will) make a difference in the coming trying times!

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