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The Sounding Board by R J Lannan |
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RJ Lannan is the reviewer for The Sounding Board. |
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| Something You Dream Of |
| By Denise Young |
| Label: Dancing Horses Music |
| Released 5/22/2007 |
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| Something You Dream Of tracks |
1. Time Alone 
2. Falling Leaves
3. Green Mountain Meadows
4. Something You Dream Of
5. Livia's Song
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6. You Were Always There
7. I'll Smile
8. Love Will Light Your Way
9. Why
10. West River
11. Autumn Colors
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The Taj Mahal awaits you |
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The whole story starts with a blatant act of vandalism, but more about that later. Denise Young is one of the new pianists that create their music with pensive thoughts, rainbow filled skies and verdant fields of beauty and translate them into music. Her new release Something You Dream of... is aptly named and a word of caution, this music can produce prodigious daydreams. This is my favorite kind of album, contemporary music with light ensemble. Just two or three pieces performing serene melodies. Denise Young played by ear at the age of four. She graduated from Maryville University, St. Louis with a degree in Music Therapy. She has used her music as a treatment for mental and physical impairments and has witnessed firsthand what miracles music can bring about. Unpretentiously, she still plays coffee houses and bookstores as well as in the concert hall. Joining Denise on her wonderful album is Derrik Jordan on percussion, T. Bone Wolk on bass, Noah Wilding on vocals, Jill Haley on English horn and several others of note.
A sad, haunting tune starts the recording and it is quite beautiful. Time Alone stands on its own and lives up to its title. There are times in your life when alone is the only way you want to be. A time to gather your thoughts, plan new strategies and maybe meditate or pray. Then there are times when it is what you are left with. Not of your own choosing of course, but there you are. Denise's contemplative piano is brilliantly accompanied by Jill Haley's English horn that on this tune seems to play only sad notes. The title tune Something You Dream of... with clarinet by David Weiss is quite remarkable. Somewhat similar to a Richard Stoltzman tune it is the delight that can come when the "what if" part of your mind acquiesces and you begin to daydream to your heart's content. Without dreams we lose our souls. The song starts out as a duet and then segues into a tiny solo. Time to wake up?
A captivating cello score by Eugene Friesen is the melancholy background for You Were Always There. From the sound it appears that the lovers have parted and all that is left are memories. The shared knowing smiles, the passion's flame of long stares and the tender warmth of touch are no more. Autumn Colors had a simple mix of piano and voice. The placid melody had an Erik Satie feel, but it is more colorful and the echoing voice added a self-effacing dimension. It is slow like the fall of leaves on a calm day, quiet like the human heart in repose and dulcet like the dreams of lovers. Noah's evocative voice is the sweetest of sounds and when you hear it, you know what the angels sound like.
Now to the crime. As a child, Denise once carved her name on a piano to hopefully prevent it from being taken away. Yes, it is shocking! She still has the piano. It is obvious that music is her life and her every breath is filled with passion for the significant meaning that every note holds. This is one of the best contemporary albums I have heard this year. Young's liner notes say she has played at almost every venue with the exception of the Taj Mahal. Denise, Shah Jahan awaits your pleasure.
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Rating: Excellent  |
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- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 8/28/2007 |
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