Con Alare By Jay Frost

 

Con Alare

By

Jay Frost

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s good to hear some traditional solo piano; the genre has been in a state of flux for a few years now, and whilst many pander to an algorithm, others like Jay Frost create music from the heart and manifest tones of honesty and heartfelt truths, here on his latest release Con Alare he does just that, gifting us ever eager listeners an album of 8 compositions, and not one of them is thankfully less than 6 most grateful minutes in duration.

Apparently “Con Alare” is Italian and means “with wings” and one can see why listening to its contents. It was released in December 2025 and features instrumental piano music with a reflective, inspirational style, a typical example is the beginning track called Open Skies, a soft, but assured beginning that constantly raises its self-awareness as it goes.

Taking Wing has a beautifully interesting collage of notes and chord changes, giving it a lush and colourful texture, but adding a little reflection into the weave of the piece as well. The music is written to evoke the feeling of rising, freedom, and movement, like a bird beginning to fly, interestingly enough in the same way with which Elton John composed his track Skyline Pidgeon back in the day.

A quieter moment of reflection comes now in the guise of the track Pezzo Improvviso, so “Pezzo Improvviso” roughly means “an impromptu piece” or “a suddenly inspired composition.” But what Frost has created here is a deeply moving creation that literally comes from the heart of the composer, and one very much appreciated by me, a perfect piece for a perfect moment of stillness and meditative reflection.

A powerful progression can be heard on this next offering entitled Not A Secret, in fact this is quite processional in its energies. Here one can find a creation that is more direct, lyrical and more emotionally open, almost like the music is “speaking plainly.” Note the flourishing technique of Frost on this piece it is very impressive, note the gradual emotional development rather than any sudden changes.

We slip delicately in to the second half of the album with a beautifully pristine piece entitled False Fears-Fiery Furnace (Medley). One can find everything here, expressive piano lines with emotional contrasts, chord progressions that symbolize tension and release, and all in this illustrious two part melody of great quality.

A second melody is now on its way with the following musical tale entitled Father Of Lights-Fill Us Today (Medley). Here regardless of any religious connection listeners can find an uplifting piece, one that could be asking for guidance, inspiration, and or renewal, this offering has a textured interplay I found utterly palpable and enjoyable, and one would do well to note how the music builds gently, giving a sense of rising and expansion, in one of the most creative and emotive pieces from the release.

Our penultimate offering is called Everlasting, the title suggests timelessness, continuity, and enduring hope, the reflective moments manifest something quite powerful and moving, there is a deep dramatic effect here that is incredibly touching, and those steady supportive left-hand chords create a foundation of stability for the overall narrative of the song to flourish.

We conclude this collection of fine solo piano compositions with the last track off the album entitled God Is Love. Flowing chords give us as listeners a sense of gentle encompassing warmth emanating from the piano, perhaps by ending in this manner it gives the listener a sense of completion and transcendence, within the arms of an energy we all know very well called hope.

Con Alare by Jay Frost must be one of the most vibrant solo piano albums I have heard for quite some time, and whilst this release, and perhaps the album, focuses on expressive solo piano pieces, ones that are often calm and perhaps spiritual, designed for listening, reflection, or worship settings, I truly believe that music transcends even those boundaries, and as such is one of the finest piano performances one could ever wish to hear. At times reflective, at times deeply moving, regardless this contribution to the tonal delights of the genre know as solo piano is all the better for it.

Evening Light By Andy Rogers

 

 

Evening Light

By

Andy Rogers

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s always a something pleasurable when you listen to a new Andy Rogers album, here on this new offering entitled Evening Light he embraces the new age music genre once more, and brings to its table one of the most beautiful and natural albums of the year thus far. Andy and I are created from the same era of the genre, where it’s the music that matters, not pandering to an algorithm for extra streams, with Andy it’s always been about the music, and it will thankfully always be that way.

Evening Light is a soothing 12 track masterpiece of classic new age material, with natural sounds and a soft delicate piano weaved into this pastiche of utter beauty and quality, tracks like the opening narrative As Day Turns to Night and the title track Evening Light are but two amazingly cultured pieces to calm the furrowed brow of any listener.

This next offering reminds me of my home here in Cyprus as every sun down is a spectacle to be blessed and called A Golden Sunset, here Andy drifts in the natural sound of birds and water, creating an idyllic vista, one so gently performed, as the sun god Apollo gives way to the night deity Selene. On Heather Cottage he produces a track that I would see as a top five single release with ease. The keyboards and soft pads added layer upon layer on one of the finest melodies since his iconic Ocean Dreaming offering.

Pieces like Shingle Beach Twilight and Into The Dark Silence add an undergarment of tone and timbre of a deeper elk into the album, these more reflective compositions, especially the latter are incredibly heart-felt and moving to bathe within.

Mid summers are made of evenings like Red Sky at Night, I remember the song of the Blackbird, those June days that would never end, but did, and in the silence of this one song I hear magic being created, in the same way with which Kevin Kendle created Eventide, this I rate as one of the finest piano compositions that Andy has ever created, it has a wistful sense of mournfulness, and a tender touch of a time passing, but one remembered with a great fondness.

If ever a track was redolent of the subject matter it would have to be the following musical narrative called Moonlight on the River, a perfect level stream sound and a gentle keyboard structure, whilst on Ocean Meditation, the calming sea waves gift us a full flowing piece that I felt were so familiar to me, and had an almost classical feel to its arrangement that I found deeply compelling.

I must admit I was looking forward to this one, Heat Haze, this had a delightful exciting build to its compositional structure that was literally movie standard, powerful, emotive chord patterns manifested a breath taking sculptured tale of brilliance from the artist, whilst the first few strains of a thunderstorm can be heard on The Rain Is Still Falling, another incredibly emotive offering, the performance on the piano is a look over the shoulder of a dying summer, as the first tinges of autumn reminds us of the delight we had, but one that has just started to fade.

We end with a gentle jazz styled opus that I fondly remember back in 2021 called Friday at 5, this is Andy’s “Cheers” piece of the album, and a great way with which to sum up the release and gift the listener something soothing and laid back to enjoy.

In my view, I think Andy has achieved that goal that as musicians we all strive for, to read from a reviewer that in his view, he has achieved his best work thus far, and I think he has certainly done that, full marks Mr Rogers, Evening Light is that panacea to cure all musical woes, and as such a high chart placement and maybe more awaits this classy release.

A Reverie of the Soul: Piano Works by Robert Schumann By Sophia Agranovich

 

A Reverie of the Soul: Piano Works by Robert Schumann

By

Sophia Agranovich

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The fluency of classical performances by pianist Sophia Agranovich has been on my musical radar for some seven years now, ever since the release of her album in 2019 entitled Celebrating Chopin, now as we establish a foothold in 2026, a new release has come to the fore, as we celebrate her latest gift to us ever eager listeners entitled, A Reverie of the Soul: Piano Works by Robert Schumann.

Robert Schuman himself was regarded as a master of his style and perhaps even of the romantic era, an era characterized by the poetic nature, musical cryptograms, and a deep sense of romantic fantasy within the tone and timbre of the times.

On Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 - I So rasch wie möglich, there is a wonderful hunger about her performance, one that is beautifully juxtaposed to the following narrative entitled Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 - II Andantino. Getragen, this would be my personal favourite from the album, it contains a manner that is lighter than andante, and tenderly quicker. Attached to this moment of sublime mastery are the following arrangements in Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 - III Scherzo. Sehr rasch und markiert, a piece highlighted by me for its power and precision, one that flows with a pristine ease into the next flourishing narrative entitled Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 - IV Rondo. Presto possible, Prestissimo, quasi cadenza, symbiotically sublime and textured along with pace and intent, but with a delightfully tender refrain which juxtaposes the more rapid structures.

We now look at the next stage of the album through the eyes of Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes, this collection of short form pieces are each a tale to tell on their own, Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Thema Andante begins our voyage of plenty, the slow movements stand out, they are absolutely glorious and free of the clichés of some andante playing, whilst a more proud, almost regal musical pontification can be found here on Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude I (Variation 1) – Un poco più vivo, the staccato onward marching ethic supremely performed here by the artist.

On Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude II (Variation 2) – Espressivo, we find a totally flourishing narrative being unveiled, masterful work with both hands playing light and dark, shadow and sunlight, and the keystrokes are gloriously textured. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude III – Vivace has an incredibly pristine feel to its performance, this presentation is beyond just speed, it directs the performer to play with energy, brilliance, and an upbeat vibe, whilst Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude IV (Variation 3) – Allegro marcato, illustrates the perfect rhythm and energy of the movement.

As we move through this realm of performance mastery by Agranovich we arrive at Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude V (Variation 4) – Scherzando, we can add to the aforementioned previous comment that an even more stylish rhythm can be found on this narrative, in an especially tender way too. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude VI (Variation 5) – Agitato, expresses a precision narrative that is deeply palpable, it jumps to great lengths, sometimes using a slightly unstable rhythm to create a feeling of excitement or distress.

Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude VII (Variation 6) – Allegro molto, here one can explore this veritable fireworks display of the movement with great aplomb, one which transforms our journey into the more dramatic flair of the piece Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude VIII (Variation 7) – Sempre marcatissimo, where each note is a sharp, forceful attack so it stands out to the ever eager and cultured listener.

With the delicacy of Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude IX – Presto possibile, presto is of course Italian for "fast" or "quick", in standard tempo rankings, it’s one of the highest, and here Agranovich shows her utter skillset in achieving a movement of incredibly high quality. Her touch here is exquisite, and is to be respected in its consistency.

Then onwards in this stunning reverie of a skill filled performance we find ourselves nestled in the valleys of Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude X (Variation 8) – Sempre con energia, a defined energy-related marking to push the physical boundaries of the piano can be found here, the very soul of the overall narrative can be located in this wondrous movement of style and class.

We can now draw towards the latter half of this section with Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude XI (Variation 9) – Con espressione, to slightly accelerate or decelerate the tempo to highlight a phrase is no mean feat, but one that Agranovich achieves with ease, in this incredibly heart felt and emotive movement.

This of course is our concluding tale to tell as we move into the welcome and joyous lands of Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 - Etude XII (Finale) – Allegro brillante, here the listener can find pomp and circumstance, a proud regalia of a piece, sweeping tones and vibrations, bringing a glorious sun kissed ending to this magnificent section of the album.

Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 is our penultimate piece, a creation that is another personal favourite of mine, graceful, flowing, and decorative melodic lines can be found here, there is a certain feeling of a romantic nature at work here too, the sensitivity through the piece is delightful and almost poetic at times, and indeed incredibly intimate too.

Papillons, Op. 2 is our final offering from the album, French for butterflies, Papillons builds upon a steady onward structure throughout this long form opus, one can envisage dancers and the dance of both butterflies and humans juxtaposing each other in a natural movement in time, this work is a testament to the artists performance structure, and shows in great detail just how adaptable and fluent she can be at all times, and a simply superb way with which to leave the album.

Sophia Agranovich the world-renowned, Ukrainian-born American classical concert pianist and recording artist has done it again; she has crafted her presentation of, A Reverie of the Soul: Piano Works by Robert Schumann to such a high standard, that the word glorious is simply not enough, this halcyon manifestation of brilliance shines light a beacon of hope on the horizon of modern classical piano performances, and one must be safe to assume that the legions of fans from this genre will be more than impressed with its contents and be very eager to purchase it.

No Worries Song By Ilka de Gast

 

No Worries Song

By

Ilka de Gast

Written by

Chrissie Sheppard

 

No Worries Song, the latest single from Ilka de Gast, serves as the second preview of her upcoming seven-track children’s meditation album.

The track reunites de Gast with multi-instrumentalist Tommy Graven, whose work on the tongue drum and guitar provides a serene foundation. The composition opens with the tranquil sound of a trickling stream, transitioning into de Gast’s soothing vocals. Together with the rhythmic tongue drum, the arrangement creates an immediate sense of internal safety.

As the guitar enters, de Gast leads a short guided meditation centred on self-compassion, giving yourself a big hug, and aiding relaxation, encouraging listeners to release their worries into the symbolic flow of the stream. The piece concludes with melodic guitar work and gentle vocalizations that ease the listener out of the meditative state.

In an era often defined by external chaos, No Worries Song stands out as a necessary sanctuary for us all. It is a compelling addition to de Gast’s discography and a valuable tool for anyone seeking to incorporate moments of peace into their daily routine. 

A Misty Mountain Day By Chrissie Sheppard ft. Steve Sheppard

 

A Misty Mountain Day

 By

Chrissie Sheppard ft. Steve Sheppard

Written by

Andy Rogers

There have been some excellent singles coming from the husband & wife team of Steve & Chrissie Sheppard just lately and this latest release, A Misty Mountain Day, continues that run of fine music in some style. 

It’s good to hear Chrissie has returned to her flute for this latest release. Combine this with some lovely atmospheric keyboards from Steve along with the sounds of nature such as the wind and you are guaranteed something just a little bit special. 

Think of Cyprus (which is of course where Chrissie & Steve live) and you instantly think of sun-kissed beaches, sea and blue skies, but away from that inland there are the beautiful Troodos mountains. Chrissie has said that she was inspired to record this single when they took a trip out to the mountains in early February, seeing the low clouds hanging in the valleys

The single opens quietly – the only sound is the hypnotic tone of the wind and small drips of water from the low hanging clouds. Slowly we hear Steve’s gentle keyboards setting the mood perfectly. After a few moments we hear the sound of Chrissie’s flute as it takes the lead with a gentle almost melancholy tune to take us further into the misty valley ahead…

Suddenly the wind and water vanish and it is just the keyboard and Chrissie’s flute which is now getting slightly brighter and more intense as if we are momentarily out of the clouds and perhaps into hazy sunshine… Steve’s keyboard reflects this as the music soars higher.  Eventually both flute and keyboards fade away and the wind & water return as we descend back into the mist and cloud… we are back as we began, alone in the mist.

Infinity By Jacquelyn G. Kleine

 

Infinity

By

Jacquelyn G. Kleine

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

One of the finest female instrumentalists around is back with another beautiful single, as Jacquelyn G. Kleine releases her latest electronic masterpiece called Infinity. Jacquelyn has a string of wondrous singles to date, with On Crystalline Seas being just one of a plethora released last year.

There are many musical realities around, many dimensions and genres I have visited over the many years of being involved in the music business, but Jacquelyn has carved a niche out for herself in the instrumental style, and here brings us moments of an almost neo classical nature on this electronic reverie.

There is also something quite calming to this release that is certainly palpable, could it be at its core, infinity (symbolized as ∞) refers to something that is limitless, boundless, or endless. Thus the tonal tentacles of this fabulous offering is so ambient yet textured in nature, and indeed it seems to wind in and around and onward.

Infinity by Jacquelyn G. Kleine has lush classical motifs that lift the soul and allows the listener to drift on a bed of blissful vibrations, ones that should once again bring another hit to the table for the artist Jacquelyn G. Kleine and her new single Infinity.

La Fontana By David Lanz

 

La Fontana

By

David Lanz

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

When I was talking to David a couple of weeks ago he told me about this new single, and his description, and my love for fountains intrigued me, I don’t know what it is about fountains, but I love them, and David’s musical tale of one is utterly delightful, so with great enjoyment I review the latest single by David Lanz entitled La Fontana.

Interestingly enough there is reference to the first fountains being used in ancient Greece as decoration, but for me this track has a real Renaissance feel about its construction, its flourishing narrative and its bright sparkling notation and tonal exquisiteness, being part of the said musical equation of brilliance.

It would be in Italy perhaps, Florence, or Rome where fountains were turned into full-on drama with such delightful motion, sculpture, and symbolism, here the Lanz performance is utterly charming as are all of his compositions, but here on La Fontana we have a tapestry of timbre that is not only redolent of the subject matter, but notes fall like gold from the cascading waters from the fountain itself.

This one has to be a huge hit for the artist, one of a few rare musicians on the planet who has never created a weak composition; in short David Lanz equals quality, and La Fontana is the piece that will continue to rejuvenate the listeners hearts, with an absolutely cheer filled performance, this one is destined for the high life and is another master piece, from the grand master himself.

As One with the Sky By Gregory Cain

 

As One with the Sky

By

Gregory Cain

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s always excellent when you find an album so good you wished you had composed it yourself, but with my musicians hat on I found much inspiration from the ambient and contemplative composer from Northern California Gregory Cain, and his latest release As One with the Sky, upon it the listener will find some of the most fascinating ambient and electronic constructed observations they could ever wish for.

Starting strong Cain gifts us a moment of clarity and great beauty with the soothing narrative entitled Wandering Curious, gentle synth pads swirl around us creating a cadence so soothing for the onward sonic voyage, a careful percussive element and bass line take us on a musical journey it will be hard to let go of.

The electronic vibe gets a deeper wash thanks to this next moody composition by the artist entitled Full Moon Over Nob Hill,  this is one of several tracks that I adored, and in some way track two of my up and coming release is similar in its depths and textures. Here Cain breathes tone emphatically into a vast wide open range, a vista so expansive, that the overall mood of the track is utterly breath taking.

I’m always a big fan of title tracks, I believe that they should reflect the overall narrative of the project, and this piece for me called As One with the Sky certainly presses all the right buttons, and also in creating a spacious open atmospheric tone, it gifts the listener a sense of ambience much needed to take sanctuary within, and at time reminding me of the most soothing creations of the late but still great Vangelis.

We can now move to a somewhat shorter piece entitled Celestial Machine, this is a true space ambient offering, one that also reminded me in part of the UK’s Kevin Kendle and his deep skies series with its textured synth pads, subtle atmospheric layers, and gentle evolving tones over the course of the three minute plus opus.

The midway marker is reached when the listener casts the rope to the dockside of truly sublime electronic music, with the following arrangement entitled October Dream. This is yet another favourite of mine; October is one of my favourite months, and for me, here the music evokes a quiet, reflective autumnal mood, a sense of cooling air, drifting leaves, and shifting light that mirrors the emotional and sensory qualities often associated with October evenings. Deep, reflective and extremely artistic music can be found on this track alone.

Now for a total course change as we arrive at a more powerful creation, and curiously called This Thing Shouldn’t Be Just out Here, this one has a decided more forceful feel to its construction, evolving from a dream like scenario perhaps, twisting and turning the knife of normality with complex sounds and percussive beats, and reminding me of US electronic experimental artists Hanslik and Moinz at times, in an almost controlled chaotic juxtaposition of a track.

One of the longer tracks from the album is called Give Me Your Tired, the inception seems to herald water sounds, perhaps like the boatman Charon conveying souls to Hades, in one of the most inventive and artistic pieces from the release, at times floating into the realm of electronic artists like Laraaji. Here Cain literally bends sounds and manifests a pace of electronic styled music that is similar to that of Berlin style, but more artistic in texture.

Next in the deeper weave of the album, is a track that is close to my heart, as I don’t live that far from the subject of this next piece, as here in Cyprus, where I live, we have such an area where turtles can be found. Flowing In Turtle Alley, the music, I can confirm is very redolent of the subject matter, fluent, slow paced and wistfully meditative, a title that evokes images of water gently moving through a quiet, hidden channel, or upon a sandy beach, where gratefully the touch of humanity has yet to tread, for me this was one of the best slices of ambient new age music I have heard for years, and I hope one day to create something as beautiful, the sweeping synths evoke a transcendent moment on what is indeed the longest offering from the album at just short of eight bliss filled minutes.

The penultimate track from the release is called An Eddy in the Stream; Cain has followed the last opus of beauty up with another, a gentle sonic movement is found here and one that perhaps invites listeners into a meditative, introspective space, regardless this goes to further emphasise just how good a composer and musician Cain is, as he creates a place in a musical stream where current doesn’t hurriedly carry you onward, but lets you linger longer, and circling around whilst doing so, in tone and timbre.

The natural sounds at the inception of this parting gift called Winter Shadows at Lost Slough, remind me of the tree frogs here in the summer, the teasing synths drift in and out manifesting a truly lush sunset arrangement of outstanding natural beauty, the sonic palette on this composition conveys cool, hushed tones and a sense of slowed time, but one moment that could easily be described as halcyon.

I salute the artist for this album. As One with the Sky by Gregory Cain is with ease one of the best electronic new age ambient styled albums I have had the pleasure to dive deeply into for around a decade at least, its creative, contemplative, exciting, mysterious and utterly beautiful, I would recommend As One with the Sky to any fan of instrumental music in a heartbeat, it has all the hallmarks of something utterly magnificent and transcendent, and could easily be held up as a prime example of the very apex of the new age music genre. 

Wishing Song By Ilka de Gast

 

Wishing Song

By

Ilka de Gast

Written by

Chrissie Sheppard

 

The latest single release from Ilka de Gast entitled Wishing Song serves as the lead single for her forthcoming children's meditation album, a project that focuses on safety and confidence for younger listeners, however, its profound sense of calm offers universal appeal.

Originally from the Netherlands and now based in California, de Gast brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective to her art as a singer-songwriter, sound healer, and licensed psychologist. For this release, she once again collaborates with award-winning multi-instrumentalist Tommy Graven.

"Wishing Song" opens with the rhythmic sounds of the ocean, layered with melodic vocals and a drumbeat designed to mimic a steady heartbeat. Complemented by a soft acoustic guitar, the track then transitions into a brief guided meditation. This segment encourages listeners to practice gratitude and serves as a powerful reminder of self-worth—a message that is often overlooked in daily life.

This track is a standout addition to de Gast's growing discography. Her work continues to resonate deeply, and this single is poised to become a staple for listeners of all ages. Incorporating "Wishing Song" into a daily ritual provides a meaningful opportunity to pause and reflect on one's inherent value.

Eternity By Kate Jaconello

 

Eternity

By

Kate Jaconello

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It is so great to be back and connected musically with Kate Jaconello, we first met in London way back in 2011 after the release of her album Earth and Sky, and so much has changed for everyone since those heady days of the past, but in 2024 Kate returned with a single called Silent Alchemy, now two years later and we have a grand release called Eternity.

The beginning opening sequence starts in traditional new age style with a fluent progressing onward keyboard, reminding me of fellow UK artist Phil Thornton in the early stages of the piece, however a sea change of absolute genius is about to evolve from the volcano of talent that is Kate Jaconello.

Percussion is employed; a flourishing keyboard and we are in a totally different ocean of sound, one you may expect artists like Kerani to swim within, regardless this symphonic almost neo classical excursion is incredible to listen to, with elements of Vangelis within the weave as well.

A dramatic last one minute can even be found lurking like a musical Kraken in an under pinned soundtrack of an ending, one that is simply breath taking and compositionally stunning. One has to ask is this the artists best work thus far, and one would have to emphatically say yes, in fact I would dare to put my money where my mouth is an predict a top 5 slot at least for Eternity by Kate Jaconello, it’s that good.

Creation By Soul Improvisations

 

Creation

By

Soul Improvisations

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Soul Improvisations certainly made a splash on the instrumental scene during 2024, and my first encounter with this brave new world of solo piano was through her debut single called Warrior Heart, Conquering Life's Challenges, which I had the pleasure of reviewing, as I have her other releases too. After the release of an album called From the Depths, Devorah M. Lewin known as Soul Improvisations is back with a brand new single entitled Creation, and it is probably the most grand of all her manifestations thus far.

This arrangement is utterly glorious, in its early stages the tone and timbre manifests a steady voyage of vibrancy, the fluency drifts into musical eddies along the river bank of this ever onward tonal delight, and with an element of a cinematic production the piano explores the narrative deeper, and a more impassioned piece comes forward like the foam bursting from the waves of a winter ocean.

There is also a beautiful melody floating within the arrangement that is so exquisitely palpable and imploring that needs to be enjoyed as well. The theme of the planet and the universe combined in its cosmological manifestation is beautifully illustrated. The artistic qualities of this piece are both dramatic and cleverly presented to each and every listener.

This lush and creative opus sums up in a single composition the glory and majesty of our world and the universe in which it resides. Each note emphasises a certain aspect of life, a mountain range, a sunset, a passing cloud, all of which go on to sum up how wonderful and incredibly special our mother is.

When one deeply listens to this moment of musical charm and crafted magnificence, one can feel utterly connected to it, within the last one minute of the piece a reflective energy can be adored in the same way with which David Lanz did with Cristofori's Dream, and then concluding the musical narrative with a deep and meaningful coda.

Creation by Soul Improvisations is a power arrangement bathed in the glory of the globe and the transcendence of the cosmos, here is an emphatic arrangement, one so colourful and textured that a veritable tapestry of tonal delight awaits each and every listener, and as such an absolute huge chart hit must be on the cards for Creation by Soul Improvisations.

Belong by The Song Gardeners

 

Belong

By

The Song Gardeners

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Back in the year of the pandemic The Song Gardeners burst onto the scene for me, bringing us Altered States, Love Flows, Love is the Magic Of Change and Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu, and year after year since, more incredible music has been added to a part of the overall genre, and the nuanced side genre of New Age Pop, today some 6 years later they have released a brand new single to hit the airwaves called Belong.

The theme is pretty current given the mood of political tyranny in the country of The Song Gardner’s, America. The band themselves say it all and I quote “The lyrics and music were written by Corrie M. Dunn at a time in her life when she felt disconnected; an outsider, not fitting into the norms of society. Currently and throughout history we’ve seen groups of people being labelled as aliens and treated as less than human, the chorus is written from the point of view of an alien in society yearning to belong”, very poignantly said ladies, and very true.

Musically the song is one that grows on you and never lets you go, it has that singer songwriter feel to its arrangement, and is beautifully performed and sung by Dunn, as a singer myself, what she has achieved here on this new creation is quite difficult, with differing tones, pitches and keys all being alternated in the space of one superb song.

One might say typical Song Gardeners and it is, but there is a clever underpinned narrative here that juxtaposes a specific mood at the moment in the world or part of it, that has to change and perhaps Belong by The Song Gardeners is the creation to do it.

The Weight Of The Sky By Derek Wille

 

 The Weight Of The Sky

By

Derek Wille

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s always nice when you come across a new musician to you personally, and then are so impressed with their work, that you wondered how you have missed them in the 30 years that both the artist and yourself have been in the music business, so it is with joy that at last I listen to The Weight Of The Sky by Derek Wille and what an abundant ride of piano mastery it was as well.

The Weight of the Sky is a 14 track release of great power, intensity and flare, tracks like Eyes Across The Room is a delicious arrangement built on the back of a hopeful pattern of tenderness and love, and is a composition that has a sparkle and a certain romanticism about its construction too.

Rhapsody In Shadow is a fine example of blending jazz, classical, new age, and improvisational styles all into one sumptuous slice of musical magic, the classical influences within this gentle narrative gave this arrangement an almost timeless feel to it for me.

There literally is something for everyone on this release, like the rapid jazz feel of Shadows on the Sidewalk. One might say that this piece is from introspective to whimsical and back again, there is certainly a fun juxtaposition between dark and light being played out here, and in the most palatable of ways.

Moving with pace now to one of my personal favourites from the album called The Years Between. The left hand here is the constant that keep us grounded, whilst the tension of emotional portrayals of musical colours and textures is brilliantly presented to the listener.

The longer my journey through this release went on, the more I feel in love with its expression, its sometimes meditative, sometimes excitable arrangements, and on Reflections On A Quiet Night, the piano conveys a sense of night-time calm, memory, and subtle emotional nuances that remind me of the most fully flavoured compositions from my dear friend David Lanz at times.

The listener will find opportunities to experience the occurrence of crossing genres with this album as well, and sometimes on one piece of music as well, flowing from a globally infused arrangement towards new age piano we can enjoy the rhythms and textures of the track Standing In The Storm, a veritable power piece of a performance.

The concluding narrative is entitled A Lifetime Ago, it channels nostalgic sweetness and bittersweet memory, evoking emotional reminiscence and introspection, through its melodic phrasing. For some reason I am mindful of other artists like Elton John on his more passionate tracks like Funeral For a Friend, and in some ways reflects perhaps on the slow passing of time and the never ending tick and tock of the relentless clock.

The Weight of the Sky by Derek Wille may have been my first introduction as a music writer and broadcaster to the musician, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed, and with total honesty, I now yearn for more. For me this says everything that is good about solo piano, everything that is inventive, artistic and interesting, and drawing on many of Wille’s influences like jazz greats and classic solo piano traditions. This is a solo piano of great style and distinction and one I hope will take the charts by storm, it’s The Weight of the Sky by Derek Wille.

Heaven by Anaya Music

 

Heaven

By

Anaya Music

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There can be no doubt that Anaya is a fine instrumentalist in her own right, my first encounter with her music was an album called Eternity back in 2016 and since then 10 years have passed, she now embraces new technology to manifest vast soundscapes, and her arrangements have become both poignant and touching, here on the album Heaven she immerses the listener into a project that is both deeply moving and palpable.

The opening track is in fact the title header and of course called Heaven. The strings are both emulated and orchestral in nature and are prominent on this and most tracks, thus giving the music a cinematic, orchestral feel. The idyllic sound frame one has of this mythological environment of hope is deeply moving and heartfelt.

Tracks like the flowing Ethereal give the listener a happy and uplifting narrative to enjoy, whilst offerings like Harmony in Nature offered another moment of enriching lyrical brilliance and an outstanding vocal pastiche on tonal delights. One can then move to one of the most fluent offerings from the album called Whispers in Harmony; this is another fine example of Anaya’s cinematic tendencies, as a veritable movie sound track is explored.

This release is a seamless transition from one milieu of beauty to another, Melodies, is a piano keyboard solo to start, and then it becomes a gentle duet with flute, supplemented by soft keyboard textures and gradually building with other instruments in a wondrous juxtaposition of instrumental fluency.

Tender notes can be found on tracks like Celestial with its neo classical roots, silent moments of reverie can be found here, an instrumental stargazing twinkling composition of great passion too, and reminds me of the work of artists like Kerani, with its lush and all-embracing sweeping melodies.

Harmony starts with an acoustic guitar leading the piece, strings in abundance soon follow in this more pop styled music approach, the perfect single for the 21^st century perhaps is on offer here.

Offerings like Afternoon sees the artists in her old stomping grounds, natural sounds of birds accompany her ethereal and angelic keyboards, and in some ways it reminds me of her early albums in texture. The penultimate piece is called Ethereal Dawn, once more that cinematic touch is found, but this specific manifestation has a more mellow vibration about its construction.

The concluding music narrative is the vocal based track of Harmony of the Spheres, in a song which is rare these days at just short of eight minutes in duration, but it is one that is utterly transcendent and the perfect way with which to depart the album.

This album is a sea change for the artist, embracing the technologies of the 21^st century and pursuing an instrumental narrative with occasional powerful vocalised tracks, this release should bring the artist many new fans and plaudits. Piano and keyboard foundations are central throughout the release, and then add sweeping orchestral scopes and additional flute and guitar passages, and magic is made by Anaya and her album Heaven.

There is a Reason By Craigology

 

There is a Reason

By

Craigology

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Craigology has literally been knocking it out of the park recently, 2025 was an excellent year for the artist, and 2026 looks like it’s going to continue this theme of brilliance, and this brand new single entitled There is a Reason, is an exciting pastiche of sound and vibrancy, melding funk, smooth jazz and chillout, something he does so very well indeed.

From the very first note, the listener is lulled into a world of vibrant colours and beautifully fun textures of tone, Craigology really has that magical touch with his trusty keyboard, one that will make anyone smile and be happy.

I can still recall our first connection in 2021, when the world was locking down, he lifted our moods with A Time to Chill, ever since then he has grown in musical stature and built upon those classy roots, and is producing some of the sweetest music of his career.

The song itself is more intricate than you might first think, its light start gifts the listener a funky vibration of tempting keyboard motifs and sultry and teasing percussion, the progression of instrumentation is classy, ranging from smooth to progressive Jazz at times, and then at the half way juncture twists again into familiar melodies that bands like Spirogyra and Level 42 used to produce in great abundance at one time.

The half way juncture of this track continues to build upon that strong change into smooth and chilled jazz, it becomes a tapestry of smooth funk, and increases its musical potency until its final flourish and coda.

Craigology is a smooth jazz, instrumental music artist known for piano‑driven, mellow, groove‑oriented compositions, that blend smooth jazz with world rhythms, mellow vibes, and melodic storytelling without vocals. Here on There is a Reason he produces a musical tale that flourishes in all of those aforementioned aspects and characters.

Following hot on the heels of tracks like Swell! And Orange Blossom, Craigology has, and is going to hit gold with this one, tempered perfectly in the fires of a smooth Jazz forge, and with just the perfect amount of light funk, to make There is a Reason, perhaps one of his biggest hits thus far.

Quogue Morning By Shambhu

 

Quogue Morning

By

Shambhu

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The beauty of this song isn’t purely its structures or even arrangement, it is the place that it comes from, the very heart and soul of the composer, this is simplicity in musical creation, taken from a twinkling in time, a halcyon moment at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, a natural born manifestation of tone and timbre and called Quogue Morning by guitarist supreme Shambhu.

I can really relate to this as it is something I too have done, I used to take my guitar down to the coast, sit on the rocks and just play with what the cadence and energy of the day brought me. Here Shambhu with guitar in hand has allowed his muse freedom to breathe and create naturally, and the resultant offering is utterly sublime and quite beautiful.

A smooth start befitting of the location, a sun kissed climb of notes and tones adding to the vibrant yet easy laid back vibration of the overall narrative, soft synth pads add a texture below and in the back drop of the overall creation, and magic is born.

Quogue Morning by Shambhu isn’t just a happy piece brought about by a mood or a feeling within nature, it is the energy of stillness transmuted into living tonal delights, and brought to our attention in an almost meditative way as if saying, life is actually easy, it is us that complicate the tale. With ease this is a hit in the making, and a gloriously delicious slice of acoustic instrumental elegance.