Exciting contemporary instrumentals Brenda Warren – BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY: All you need do to become a “believer” in Brenda’s exciting and exceptional talent is listen to pieces like the 3:40 opener, “Imagine Spring“… she is especially good at playing against the overtones she creates… you’ll want to make sure you listen to this song (and the entire album, for that matter) with your headphones on!
Up here in the Great Northwest, the trees are in full spring bloom, and as I listen to Brenda’s 4:08 “Beneath Cherry Blossoms“, I don’t even have to look out my studio window to visualize the beauty those trees bring… Brenda’s composition and playing goes far beyond the “New Age” category on this piece, and clearly amplifies the meaning of “contemporary”… “living in the now” – I just loved this piece.
Brenda’s stellar album was produced by Will Ackerman, and features high-talent players like Eugene Friesen (cello), Charlie Bisharat (violin), Michael Manring (fretless bass) Tony Levin (bass), Tom Eaton (bass) Premik Russel Tubbs (sax, wind synth), Jill Haley (English horn) and Jeff Haynes (percussion)… I was deeply moved by “Passing Through“… Brenda’s cascading piano on this marvelous composition will remind you of just how joyful life can be… perfect pacing, and an exuberance you will seldom find on other recordings.
The song that (easily) captured my vote for personal favorite of the twelve highly unique tunes Brenda has created, though, is “Drifting“… I was absolutely astounded by her ability to use the deep lower registers on her piano, combined with a delicate weave of higher tones to create an impression of movement that’s nearly physical… this is (without question) one of the strongest piano-led songs I’ve heard (yet) in 2018.
I give Brenda and her musical companions a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99 for this “must-have” album. Get more information at Brenda’s website. Rotcod Zzaj
