Music and Media Focus

Album: Breeze
Artist: Curtis Macdonald
Website: https://about.me/curtismacdonald

If anyone does a great job of reflecting the many faces of southern California in music it is keyboardist/composer Curtis Macdonald. A previous release of his which I wrote about and enjoyed immensely was entitled Los Angeles. That album celebrated a number of iconic landmarks from around the city and drew inspiration from Curtis’ love of the film noir era of the 1940’s and 50’s. While his new recording, Breeze, as the title implies, reflects more of the fun and sun vibe that the area is known for.

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Album: Liminal
Artist: Silvia Nakkach
Website: https://silvianakkach.com/

“Space… the final frontier.” For anyone who has ever watched Star Trek, these iconic words will strike a resonant chord. Although these words could also describe Liminal, the new album by GRAMMY nominated composer, vocalist, and instrumentalist Silvia Nakkach whose music is as much about sound as it is about the space that surrounds it. Billowing clouds of ambient atmospheres carry elements of Indian ragas, sacred Afro-Brazilian chants, and more that drift serenely over ever-evolving sonic terrain that is expansive, ethereal, and enchanting.

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Album: Unbroken Dreams
Artists: Josefine and Trine Opsahl
Website: www.trineopsahl.com

It’s been about 3 years since I wrote about Celtic harpist Trine Opsahl’s enchanting album, Somewhere in a Hidden Memory, which I greatly enjoyed. In fact I was even inspired to think about learning to play the harp after hearing it. So I was excited to receive her new album, Unbroken Dreams, which features a new musical partner – her daughter Josefine, who is quite accomplished on the cello. According to their press release: “Beyond words, and one in spirit, best describes a unique bond between a mother and daughter who effortlessly share the gift of musical expression.” In Trine’s own words: “As mother and daughter we unite through our music in a timeless beautiful place of deep peace and tranquility as we resonate in unison with the language of our souls.”

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Album: Little Things Of Life
Artist: Eichstaedt
Website: www.wellnessmusik-eichstaedt.de

When I wrote a feature article about Eichstaedt’s first album, My Own Little World in 2013, I ended by saying: “The debut album by Petra Eichstaedt shows potential for this evolving artist. As the saying goes, ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with at single step,’ and Petra’s first venture as a solo recording artist shows that she is on firm footing and following a promising creative path. I’ll look forward to her continuing adventures.” And now here we are in 2015 ready to set out on a new musical sojourn with her follow up release, Little Things Of Life. Continue reading →

Album: All Our Yesterdays
Artist: Blackmore’s Night
Website: www.blackmoresnight.com

I always knew that the group Blackmore’s Night was popular and had an extensive international following, but I must say I was taken a bit by surprise when I posted my feature article about their previous album, Dancer and The Moon, and it generated 500 views here on Music and Media on the first day alone. However, for those who may not be familiar, as I wrote at that time: “The music of Blackmore’s Night is an alchemical brew of Renaissance and Medieval music, Celtic, English folk, and rock influences. The seven-piece band employs a wide range of instruments harkening from the Middle Ages to the present.” This retro mix is lovingly referred to as “Ren-rock” by some of the group’s adoring fans.

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CD: Imaginings
Artist: Paul Adams
Contact: www.pauladams.org

I remember doing coloring book exercises in art class back in elementary school, where everybody tried their best to color neatly within the lines. However, there was always one kid in the class for whom those lines were irrelevant and presented boundaries to be transcended. I think that Paul Adams was that kid. While I say that jokingly, I believe that idea of transcending boundaries has infused Paul’s music over the years. I’ve been a fan of his for two and a half decades and remember reviewing his earliest recordings starting around 1990. One of the most fun things about receiving a new Paul Adam’s release is that you never know what kind of music or fusion of elements it will be, considering that he has had nine critically acclaimed albums in five different musical genres.

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CD: Patterns of Sun and Shade
Artist: Kathryn Kaye
Contact: www.kathrynkaye-music.com

There can be little question as to the source of Kathryn Kaye’s creative inspiration. The beauty and mystery of nature have always played prominently in her artistry. Even the title of her latest release Patterns of Sun and Shade reveals her fascination with the natural world. Of this she shares: “I’ve always been fascinated by sunlight filtered through leaves or bare branches, the play of light and shade in clouds and high mountains, and shadows on a rock wall or on a narrow path winding through the woods.” There is no doubt that her home in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado provides an endless bounty of natural splendor, where she captures its essence in music and photography. However, another source that feeds into her musical wellspring are the hymns and folksongs of the Appalachian Mountains of southeast Kentucky, where she grew up.

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Healing with Harmony
www.healingwithharmony.com

Healing with Harmony is a non-profit organization that provides custom configured healing music programs to health care providers. They do this by making available what they call a Harmony Kit.  Each kit includes a collection of specifically chosen music and spoken word CD’s, players, and accessories. Continue reading →