Music and Media Focus

CD: Wires, Rosewood & Roots
Artist: Bob Ardern
Contact: www.bobardern.ca

I’m looking closely at the photo of guitarist Bob Ardern to determine whether he’s got more than two hands. Judging by some of the intricate fretwork on his Wires, Rosewood & Roots CD, I can’t help but wonder. Seriously though, this veteran musician who hails from Nova Scotia, is one talented picker. His acoustic fingerstyle playing draws inspiration from the likes of early Al Stewart, Leo Kottke, Doc Watson, and English folk guitarists John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, among others. Bob’s own unique style is diverse and combines elements of folk, classical, jazz, and Celtic. View full article »

CD: Patterns Of Reflection
Artist: Peter Sterling
Contact: www.harpmagic.com

If there is any instrument that has an instantly uplifting effect and the ability to evoke a celestial vibe, it is the harp. Perhaps it is the association with the angelic realm, but there is something about its’ ethereal ambience that speaks to the soul. For harpist Peter Sterling, it is a perfect vehicle to express his artistic and spiritual vision. View full article »

CD: Dawn of Peace
Artist: Lynn Yew Evers
Contact: http://www.lynnyewevers.com/

I can’t imagine what a difference it must be living in the Pacific Northwest after growing up in Malaysia – but Lynn Yew Evers can. However, it must have been an adjustment as well when she left her native land to earn her degree from Trinity Music College of London in Singapore and Hong Kong. Although she began playing at the age of four and first performed when six years old,  in her relatively brief career, this brilliant young pianist has had a number of distinguished experiences. At the top of her list was being invited to perform for the king and queen of Malaysia, as well as another performance for the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. She has also had a number of high level appearances in both Malaysia and the US as a solo artist and accompanist for choirs and ensembles. View full article »

CD: Soundscapes
Artist: Steve Bowe
Contact: www.bowemusic.com

After hearing all the tracks on Steve Bowe’s “Soundscapes” album, I’m reminded of the famous quote delivered byTom Hanks in the movie Forest Gump: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” And so it is with this Whitman’s Sampler of a musical CD. There is an incredible diversity from one song to the next that makes for a most interesting and tasteful listening experience. Like a box of chocolates where each piece may be different on the inside yet all are similarly covered in chocolate, a unifying element in Steve’s varied music is the use of the latest technology, synthesizers, software, etc. that gives his music a contemporary electronic candy coating.

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CD: Awakening
Artist: F.E.D.
Contact: www.fed-music.com

When I first started listening to “Awakening” by Franz Eddy Daniel, aka F.E.D, I had to go back and look at the cover to make sure I hadn’t put on a Vangelis, Yanni, or John Tesh CD by mistake. This stunning debut album is by a young pianist and composer from Port-au-Prince, Haiti who came to the US to earn a degree in Architecture at the City College of New York, but never strayed far from his deep love for music.

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CD: Journey Around The Sun: A Mayan Odyssey
Artists: Bill Wren and Frank Ralls
Contact: journeyaroundthesun.com

If I were asked to write a one-word review of Journey Around The Sun: A Mayan Odyssey, that word would probably be “wow!” And perhaps followed by another exclamation point or two if space permitted. This new release by Bill Wren and Frank Ralls can best be described as epic on every level – including the concept, song writing, musicianship, arranging, orchestration, and even the packaging and promotion. But let’s begin at the beginning… the concept. View full article »

CD:Heavy As A Feather
Artist: Kathryn Kaye
Contact: www.kathrynkaye-music.com

As I mentioned at the end of my review of Kathryn Kaye’s excellent debut album Dreaming Still, plans were already on the drawing board for her next recording and that it would certainly be something to look forward to. Now, here it is, just about one year later, and it didn’t take a crystal ball to know that this sequel would be a fulfillment of that prophecy. Kathryn has done it again in grand style.

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CD: Awakening
Artist: Dan Blanchard
Contact: www.peacefulvibes.com

 I’ll never forget the first time I heard the haunting strains of Ravi Shankar’s Indian classical music while in college during the late 60’s. It was so radically different from the music of Jimi Hendrix, Santana, and The Doors that I had been listening to, and was totally exotic and alien to my ear. Yet there was something in it that spoke deeply to my soul and I kept coming back to it, allowing it to beckon me down a ancient mystical path to a place within.  View full article »

CD: Solitary Treasures
Artist: Darlene Koldenhoven
Contact: www.darlenekoldenhoven.com

While you may or may not immediately recognize Darlene Koldenhoven by name, there is a good chance you have heard her voice. It could have been in her appearance as the featured soprano soloist on Yanni – Live At The Acropolis which has been seen by over 1.5 billion viewers on PBS, or perhaps in her role as the tambourine-waving choir nun and real life vocal coach/choir director for Sister Act and Sister Act II with Whoopie Goldberg. Other possibilities include her multiple appearances on The Academy Awards and three American Idol specials. View full article »