Bill Wren is often referred to as the Rare Texas Songbird, in a declaration I thought appropriate having the surname Wren, yet it uniquely describes his musical aspirations and return flight to perfection.  First playing bass in a Rock band, Bill realized after one stellar show in front of a crowd gone wild audience, music was his final destination. 

One day in a Life is his release already gathering attention, having many songs winding up #1 or in the Top 10 at SoundClick.com & Broadjam.com, with songwriting awards in Indie & International Song Writing Contests. Reading everything I could on Bill Wren, I also learned that lifelong friends played a major role leading to an early formation of his musical biography that endures even to this day.

One day in a Life is like a beautiful bird of paradise and where Bill Wren excels the most, in heartfelt compositions that exhibit the very essence for each characteristic style given by every performing musician on the album he calls a friend. 

Wren states the album’s success is due in part to the arrangement and production work of Frank Ralls, along with musical assistance of Terry Winch & Ike Strum, with a host of vocalists and instrumentalists who together, have assembled a refined album with a right at home presence. 

One day in a Life answers the call to  11  songs in New Age, Orchestration, Neo Classical, along with structured blends of Jazz, Blues, and Rock, building a comfortable resting place to display his versatile compositions.  The calm acoustic guitar strides heard in the title song characterize the overall attraction given to the entire album, giving a hint of the harmonious novelty waiting within each well rounded song.

Daybreak shows the smooth artistry of this album sporting a fragrant touch and vibrant flare, where rich orchestration plays the intermingled leading role while supporting soloist and softer vocals.  Much like En Mai, lavish cello entries appear to drift and sway in time to gentle winds and deep sentimental overtones, with an emphasis on instrumental soloists as the chosen method to hallmark every occasion in this album of versatility.

Ocean Breeze features acoustic guitar giving the arrangement a moderate tempo and under closer examination, exhibits a form of poetry in motion while gently transitioning to a more complex guitar rendition, making the move during nice orchestral balance and light percussion effects.

I Will Waltz For You, with it’s descriptive title, glides right into motion filled pirouettes in time to dance rhythms, while Lovers Rendezvous has a moderate tempo with saxophone and piano adding an impassioned rendition, contributing to a pleasing sense of atmosphere. 

Setting the ambiance again is Heart to Heart, in singular key piano melody and Night Fall, where piano, saxophone, and soft vocals maintain the beautiful colors perceived in this albums theme.

The song Old Friend provides the forethought in this lighter flute melody backed by a full symphony of warmth and sincerity, and since everyone is great as an individual soloist on the album, it does help me summarize with certainty. 

The qualities I discovered in One Day in a Life, do facilitate a level of relaxation one person can easily enjoy alone, morning, noon or night, but with such an engaging album like this one, is always best experienced in the company of good friends.

The musicians and credits on this album are, Frank Ralls, Terry Winch, Ike Strum, Sandy Williams, Nick Curry, Janet Planet, John Gibson, Jim Farrelly, Kyle Wehner, Michael Houston, Kelly Willard, Tom Washatka, Patrick Harshbarger, and Chris Lieber.

Visit the Rare Texas Songbird at billwrenmusic.com to sample or CDBaby.com to purchase.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto.com – Ardith

There are a lot of great piano melodies on Faith – and, like Yanni, Jim Brickman also has a lot of talented singers with him. The album contains some true classics too, like Amazing Grace, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, and Ave Marie.  Here you can see Jim’s pictures from the Grammy awards (click the picture to the left in the Flash window).

You can sample the album here – and, while you are at it, why not book a ticket to Jim’s Alaska cruise! That would make a romantic gift.

Mannheim Steamroller’s discography contains some of the most romantic music in our genre. They are of course most famous for Christmas music – but Mannheim Steamroller has much more to offer for other occasions as well.

Why not express your love this Valentine’s Day to that special someone by giving the gift of music from the Mannheim Steamroller Romantic CD Collection? Music has become one of the most popular gifts on Valentines Day because of it’s ability to express ones feelings. In an exclusive offer from Mannheim Steamroller, you get rose scented candles, bath and body products with a Valentines Day Card! If that doesn’t make you feel romantic, nothing will… 

Mannheim Steamroller’s even have a Valentines Day special, where you get to learn all you need to know about this romantic tradition.

There is one thing I have to mention right away, since I think I will not dare to say it later on; Sintra is not available anymore. It is out of print and the label behind it is closed down. But rest assure, you can still get the songs from it FOR FREE as mp3-files by contacting Rui Serodi directly on email address: info <at> ruiserodio.com. Just send him an email, and he will send you the songs. Trust me, this is by far the best offer you’ll get all day. But if you’re not still convinced, keep reading.

The first song on the album, Shepherd’s Dawn, is a great introduction to the album’s style. It is quite simply wonderful keyboard music. The synth harmonica would probably been better played live, but that is not a problem when the melodies are so complex and interesting. You can sense that this is an artist with many years experience of playing and composing. I must mention that this album was recorded 10 years ago, and not by using the latest synth technology. Still it is a wonderful album, a true treat. for everyone that loves the good old analogue keyboard sound.

Water Runs Through Leaves is a cool lounge song with a gentle, almost inaudible rhythm. It is very happy, and it makes you feel like dancing. Here I must mention that all songs on the album are long, between 5 and 10 minutes long, so you really get a feeling for the melodies (but there is no monotony, all songs have a nice build-up).

The most dramatic song on the album is Two Voices, One People. It has a nice medieval feeling, with flute sections, and you can almost see the knights riding off to war.

Sintra illustrates to perfection the new age music fusion. The album is classical music redefined by synths, brought to life by master pianist Rui Serodio.

My favorite song on the album is the 9 minutes long Where Life Was Born Again. The female vocal sounds divine, and the piano and strings are breathtaking. When it is done, you feel like you’re reborn.

The last song on the album, Memories kept by the Stone, gives, the listener a true feeling of Rui Serodi impressive skills as a pianist. The piano sounds alive and playful. It is so great, in this time of sequencers, to know that the composer actually is able to play this piece live.

Sintra is in all respects a new age music recording, with its atmosphere and harmonies. Together with the classical influences and the keyboardish approach make it into a truly remarkable recording. Sintra is both fresh and powerful, laidback and bold – all at the same time. It is an album this reviewer feels proud to own.

Be sure to check out RuiSerodio.com

The thing I find most interesting is how Marshall Styler paints a picture of nature in sound. I own a large collection of nature sounds CDs, but few of them give a better representation in sound of the human experience of nature – even though they are recordings of live nature sounds, like rain, waves or wind. Seven Falls is the musical equivalent of how a painting often can communicate feelings better than a photo. When you play Seven Falls you feel that you are one with nature, because the music is so visual, so heartfelt. You understand why Styler HAD to create this album.

I love keyboards and that warm, analogue sound that gave life to so much music in the 70s and ’80s. Today some might find that Marshall Styler’s instrumental music is too retro sounding, but to me it sounds fantastic. Styler’s understanding and love for the simple but elegant keyboard melody, to call it that, is just world class. He is a synth master, and his music reminds me of Edard Froesse’s solo material. You cannot become this good by just using a software synth. You’ll need a truckload of  hardware synths.

Nothing is worth more than this day

Seven Falls is Marshall Styler’s seventh instrumental album. There is one song on this album that truly deserves to become a modern classic. It is the title song, Seven Falls, which surprisingly is track no. six on the album… That aside, it is a magnificent song. If it had been the sound track to a major film in the 80s, we would all be able to whistle it today. Believe me, you will fall in love with it at once. I was also deeply moved by the song The Locket. Here melancholy and positivity are mixed in an original way, filling the canvas with colors of all shades.

As a fan of Marshall Styler’s previous works (especially Bluefields from 1994, which is a very happy and positive album), I must say that I am thankful that he didn’t take the time off. But now when the album is finished I hope that he finds the time to take some well deserved holiday. But mr. Styler, please do get back into the studio if the melodies keep on coming!

Sample the album on CDBaby.

Also be sure to read this recent interview with the artist.

Get the CD that radio broadcasters worldwide voted as the Best Neo-Classical Album in the 2008 New Age Reporter Lifestyle Music Awards.

Marc Enfroy style can be described as Cinematic Piano. The music is visual, and it makes you think of beautiful sunsets or romantic scenes from movies. It is without a drum beat, like classical music. The rhythm is in the steady stream of tones, sometimes faster and sometimes slower. I am a fan of synths and electronic music in general, and I love the sound on Unbounded; the el piano, synth strings and the other orchestral arrangement (like oboe, cello, crash cymbals and some vocal pads) sound great. Perhaps some listeners would hold that keyboardish sound against the album; it is not as popular as it used to. With a live chamber orchestra and a Steinway piano in the middle, Enfroy’s magnificent melodies would perhaps have had greater appeal. But to me, as a fan of electronic music, the arrangement on Unbounded is more than good enough.
The album consists of 12 tracks, most of them around 4 minutes long. The opening track, Night on the Seine, is a perfect introduction to Enfroy’s style; first you hear the piano, played in a gentle and elegant way. After a minute or so you are introduced to the orchestral arrangements, with several layers of strings and some distant oboes. It is, needless to say, a powerful combination. Here is room for feelings of love or sorrow; it is your state of mind that decides if this music is happy or sad.

In the song’s title, Night on the Seine, is a hint to the Cinematic Piano aspect. When you listen to the song, you almost feel like sailing on the Seine. The boat is silently floating on the river, the warm summer breeze is in your hair and the sun is setting over the glittering water. Close your eyes, and Enfroyâ’s music will take you there.

The title track, Unbounded, is a marvelous track. It starts quietly, slowly gaining more power with both strings and oboes. The ending, three minutes later, has that larger than life-feel, like Chariots of Fire and Conquest of Paradise by Vangelis.

The track number three, The Summit, is a positive song. It has the feel of victory and success, like finally reaching the mountain top after a long and hard climb. There is a very interesting shift of energy around 2min25sec, where Enfroy’s talent is obvious. It has a fantastic ending, filled with positive emotions. I can only imagine how that would have sounded with a full size philharmonic orchestra!

Empire Bluff and Mare Nostrum, track number four and five, are also happy and warm songs. This is music that I think describe the beauty and greatness of nature, either seen from a cliff overlooking Lake Michigan or on a boat on the great Mediterranean Sea.

Kalliopeâ’s Courtyard, track six, has an intro that reminds of classical music, almost like listening to the woodwind section of an orchestra warming up before a concert. The main part of the song is also highly positive. If I were a movie director, I would use this music for the most romantic part of the film. With music like this you don’t need the actors to say the words I love you. It’s already been told by the movie score.

The first time I listened to Unbounded, I had to replay track number seven, Taken Away. I listened to it many times. When I later interviewed Marc Enfroy about the album), I was not surprised to find out that this was in fact the track that started it all. It is so sad and so powerful. It is filled with the feeling of loss, but at the same time an immense gratitude of all the positive memories that will continue to live. Memories in the Sand, Forbidden Island and On to Forever are songs with pleasant melodies. I especially like the sea samples and vocal pads on the intro to Forbidden Island.

The last two tracks on the album, Solitary Journey and Moonlit Dreams, are a little bit melancholic as you can see from the titles. But they are not sad if you don’t want them to. Again it is your state of mind that decides, and I think this is what makes this album great. On Moonlit Dreams Marc uses two new instruments, a low organ and a xylophone (or perhaps the sound of wine glass?). I think the ending is perfect, and it leaves you feeling relaxed and happy.

All in all Unbounded is a truly great debut album. Some may say that it is too much feelings here, too new ageish if you will. This is clearly not an album for everyone. But I think it has lot of potential. Unbounded reminds me of Enya’s piano songs, like From Where I Am on The Memories of Trees (1995) or Miss Clare Remebers on Watermark (1988).

Unbounded’s combinations of piano melodies and orchestral arrangements are perfect for movies, but it can also be the soundtrack of your life. Believe me; you will be moved…