Kold9.com - Music for your soul

Yiruma (born 15 Feb 1978, currently 30 years old, Seoul, Korea) is a South Korean piano music composer. He is married to Miss Korea Son Hye-im.

Yiruma is well known throughout the world, and his albums are sold all over Asia, as well as the United States and Europe. His most famous pieces include "Kiss the Rain", "Maybe" and "River Flows in You" (First Love).

Although he formerly held dual citizenship as a citizen of the United Kingdom and South Korea, in July 2006 he gave up his British citizenship and entered the Republic of Korea Navy to begin his military service, which is mandatory for all male South Koreans.

Yiruma started to learn the piano at home in Korea at the age of 5. In 1988 he moved to England, and in Dec 1996 he participated in the album The Musicians of Purcell (Decca). He graduated from The Purcell Of Specialist Music School (London) in July 1997, then from Kings College in June 2000.

Artist : Yiruma
Release Date: November 3, 2008
Language: Korean
Publisher: Vitamin Entertainment, Korea
Genre: Piano/New Age

Yiruma's 6th album

Yiruma (born 15 Feb 1978, currently 30 years old, Seoul, Korea) is a South Korean piano music composer. He is married to Miss Korea Son Hye-im.

Yiruma is well known throughout the world, and his albums are sold all over Asia, as well as the United States and Europe. His most famous pieces include "Kiss the Rain", "Maybe" and "River Flows in You" (First Love).

Although he formerly held dual citizenship as a citizen of the United Kingdom and South Korea, in July 2006 he gave up his British citizenship and entered the Republic of Korea Navy to begin his military service, which is mandatory for all male South Koreans.

Yiruma started to learn the piano at home in Korea at the age of 5. In 1988 he moved to England, and in Dec 1996 he participated in the album The Musicians of Purcell (Decca). He graduated from The Purcell Of Specialist Music School (London) in July 1997, then from Kings College in June 2000.

There is nothing like first love. The irresistible allure of one's first romance can linger for a lifetime. Take a trip down memory lane with Yiruma - First Love Repackage.

Yiruma represents the best of Korea's new age artists. In Yiruma - First Love Repackage, the talented musician presents his signature brand in a repackaged edition which includes three bonus tracks: a string version of Kiss The Rain (Track 16); Choi Ji Woo's theme song in Winter Sonata, When The Love Falls (Track 17); and I (Track 18). This 18-track album also includes MAY Be (Track 2), known as the TV commercial song for "Basic House". In comparison to his past piano tracks, Yiruma offers more versatility in First Love, incorporating the smooth soothing sounds of violins, cello, and viola.

Though classically trained, pianist Jim Brickman prefers to play more pop-flavored, gently lyrical new age music. His unique compositions are emotional and structured, but not rigidly so. Brickman enrolled in the Cleveland Institute of Music in his late teens. The focus was on classical music, but Brickman could not escape the lure of mainstream music and at age 19 began writing commercial jingles. This led him to compose music for such major outfits the Gap, Isuzu, Sprint, and Kellogg's as well as with Jim Henson and Henson Associates. During his association with Henson, he composed for the Muppets and for projects on Sesame Street. He also assisted on some of Henson's Disney projects. Brickman recorded his debut album, No Words, on Windham Hill in 1994. The following year he released By Heart on the same label, and in 1997 issued Picture This as well as The Gift, a collection of seasonal favorites. Visions of Love followed a year later, and in early 1999 Brickman returned with Destiny. A classy live effort, My Romance: An Evening with Jim Brickman appeared in 2000. Two years later, Brickman crafted a beautiful children's album called Love Songs and Lullabies. Efforts such as Grace, Peace, and The Disney Songbook followed in the relaxing yet elegant vein of his earlier work. In 2006, Brickman left longtime label Windham Hill and released Escape on Savoy Jazz. The holiday-themed Homecoming followed in 2007.

Relax and soothe your soul with Unspoken, Grammy-nominee Jim Brickman's first all-solo piano CD since he launched his recording career fifteen years ago. This brand new collection of romantic piano favorites exudes deep sophistication and heartfelt sentimentality as only Jim Brickman can!

One of the most popular artists in the solo instrumental and adult-alternative spheres, Lanz played in several rock bands during his teens, then began developing his style as a solo pianist in a small Seattle nightclub. He introduced some of his originals into the bar's required mix of standards and pop tunes, receiving such a positive response from patrons that, before long, he was playing his own material almost exclusively. His early albums of solo piano works are still among the Narada label's best-sellers. His two collaborative efforts with guitarist Paul Speer also hit the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart; yet as Lanz's national popularity grew, he began to experiment with works for larger and larger ensembles, culminating in full orchestral accompaniments on Skyline Firedance (1990). With 1991's Return to the Heart, he journeyed back to his solo piano roots, and made his vocal debut on 1993's Bridge of Dreams. Lanz remained prolific throughout the decade, resurfacing in 1994 with Christmas Eve; Sacred Road followed in 1996, and two years later he returned with Songs from an English Garden. Next was An Evening with David Lanz, issued in 1999; East of the Moon appeared a year later.

Living Temples DVD

“Living Temples is an unparalleled visual and musical celebration of our cherished natural environment. Phenomenal cinematography exquisitely blended with a soul-moving musical soundscape reflects an extraordinary level of creative artistic expression that progressively evolves into transcendent healing experience.” - Barry Bittman, MD, neurologist, researcher and CEO of the Yamaha Music & Wellness Institute.


“Living Temples” is an incredible collaboration from filmmaker Jan Nickman and composer David Lanz. The first in a series of such projects, this film features breathtaking footage of the American Southwest that includes sacred grounds, oceans of sand, the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, time-lapse photography of the sky during the day and at night, and stunning natural land formations. “Living Temples” works seamlessly because of the way it was created. Rather than doing all of the filming and then setting it to music or composing all of the music and making the visuals fit, the artists exchanged rough cuts of their respective work as it progressed, developing the project together rather than independently of each other. The film concludes with an original dance choreographed and performed by Caroline Richardson, former First Soloist with the National Ballet of Canada, and includes optional (the vocal track can be turned on or off) spoken words by Academy Award winning actress Linda Hunt.

It is very interesting to note that David Lanz and Jan Nickman worked together at the Seattle-based record and video company, Miramar, in the 1980’s. Two of their landmark music videos were the enormously popular “Natural States” and “Desert Vision” (with Paul Speer), which launched their careers in film and music. Some twenty years later, Lanz and Nickman reunited as experienced masters of their arts, equipped with a whole new set of “toys.”

The music of “Living Temples” is some of David Lanz’s most beautiful work yet. His distinctive piano and keyboard stylings run throughout the soundtrack and provide the soul and heartbeat of the film. Flutist Gary Stroutsos plays a variety of Native American flutes and light percussion and composed additional music. His flutes are haunting and provide a reminder of which culture was first to explore and inhabit The Southwest. (The soundtrack is available separately and is magnificent with or without the visuals.) The spoken words by Linda Hunt are interesting, but perhaps a bit distracting. I turned them off the second time I watched the film, and found it much easier to be enveloped by the sounds and sights without the words. The dance segment was shot over several months in various locations. Caroline Richardson danced to the music played at twice its actual speed, and then the film was slowed back down to normal, giving a slightly altered, dreamy effect.

Plans are in the works for “Living Temples” to be shown on various PBS stations. “Living Temples” is truly awesome, and I give it my highest recommendation.

Kathy Parsons
MainlyPiano.com

Ryan Farish is an American electronica artist/producer, songwriter and composer.

Ryan Farish's currently available albums include Beautiful (2004), From The Sky (2005), Everlasting (2006), "Selected Works" and "Selected Works Xpanded" (compilations of his early works), "Wonderfall" (2008), "Dancing Angel" (Ryan Farish & Donna Lewis) -2008 single, and "In This Moment" -2008 Single; Farish has also released independent albums, including Daydreamer (2002), Beyond the Horizon (2002), and In The Day (2000), which are now considered collectible. A few of the rare songs from Ryan Farish's early albums Daydreamer and Beyond the Horizon are featured on Ryan Farish's Selected Works album.

Ryan Farish received a "Dove Award" at the 2008, 39th Annual Gospel Music Awards, for co-writing the hit Gospel Song, "Listen" - Trin i Tee 57.

Many of Farish's works can be heard on The Weather Channel's Local on the 8s. One of his songs, "Holding Hands" is featured on The Weather Channel's Smooth Jazz CD released in October 2007, The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz. This compilation climbed to the Number 1 position, on the Billboard Jazz Album Chart, and features Ryan Farish along with Jazz superstars Chick Corea, Dav Koz, Najee, and Jeff Lorber to name a few.

Much as saxophonist Euge Groove did to gather a built-in following for his smooth jazz recording career, this inventive, lyrical new age electronic composer hit pay dirt with hundreds of thousands of MP3 downloads before releasing his indie debut. The most appealing songs here -- the swaying groover "Night Wind," the hypnotic and percussive "Secret Garden," and the graceful, acoustic, piano meditation "Letting Go" -- all held the Number One spot for their genre on the website, and with good reason. At his best, Ryan Farish embodies all the ethereal melodic joy of Keiko Matsui, blending whimsical piano melodies with easy machine beats and the subtle "whoosh" of a synthesized wind. Some have compared his music to Tangerine Dream, but his music is lighter and lacks the rock edges, preferring clever percussion patterns and floating atmospheres. The one drawback is that we can tell it's all self contained and low-budget. One wonders how much more emotional power he could have if he used live musicians and alternated the machine drums with real ones on occasion.

Suzanne Ciani was one of the first and finest woman artists to make a name for herself in the world of electronic music. Ciani earned a Masters degree in composition from the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied with electronic pioneers Max Matthews, John Chowning, and Don Buchla. In 1975 she moved to New York, where she got involved in the Soho art scene, and also worked with minimalist Philip Glass. She began to hit the big time with the establishment of Ciani Musica, Inc., one of the foremost commercial production companies in the country. Ciani later expanded into film scoring and gained recognition for her work on Lily Tomlin's The Incredible Shrinking Woman as well as the award-winning feature documentary Mother Teresa. Ciani's career as a recording artist, however, took a more indirect route. Her 1982 Japanese release Seven Waves became an underground hit, prompting its American release by Private Music in 1984. Then Velocity of Love came along, which, with its intriguing synthesizer work balanced by strong melodies and pop sensibilities, helped define contemporary instrumental music and the burgeoning genre of new age. Ciani recorded steadily for Private through the 1980s and into the next decade, issuing the Grammy-winning Hotel Luna ('86), Neverland ('88), History of My Heart ('89), and the 1990 solo piano Pianissimo. In 1994 Ciani established the Seventh Wave imprint, and issued the orchestral album Dream Suite. Two years later Pianissimo II apppeared, followed by a live album in 1997. The title track of the 1999 album Turning featured vocals from Chyi-yu. Ciani took a break after third installment in her Pianissimo solo piano series, released in 2001. But she returned four years later with the ambitious studio effort Silver Ship.

Ultimate collection of Suzanne Ciani.. Special Asian edition contains a previously unreleased track. Her music, reknowned for its romantic, healing, and aesthetic qualities...

Suzanne Ciani was one of the first and finest woman artists to make a name for herself in the world of electronic music. Ciani earned a Masters degree in composition from the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied with electronic pioneers Max Matthews, John Chowning, and Don Buchla. In 1975 she moved to New York, where she got involved in the Soho art scene, and also worked with minimalist Philip Glass. She began to hit the big time with the establishment of Ciani Musica, Inc., one of the foremost commercial production companies in the country. Ciani later expanded into film scoring and gained recognition for her work on Lily Tomlin's The Incredible Shrinking Woman as well as the award-winning feature documentary Mother Teresa. Ciani's career as a recording artist, however, took a more indirect route. Her 1982 Japanese release Seven Waves became an underground hit, prompting its American release by Private Music in 1984. Then Velocity of Love came along, which, with its intriguing synthesizer work balanced by strong melodies and pop sensibilities, helped define contemporary instrumental music and the burgeoning genre of new age. Ciani recorded steadily for Private through the 1980s and into the next decade, issuing the Grammy-winning Hotel Luna ('86), Neverland ('88), History of My Heart ('89), and the 1990 solo piano Pianissimo. In 1994 Ciani established the Seventh Wave imprint, and issued the orchestral album Dream Suite. Two years later Pianissimo II apppeared, followed by a live album in 1997. The title track of the 1999 album Turning featured vocals from Chyi-yu. Ciani took a break after third installment in her Pianissimo solo piano series, released in 2001. But she returned four years later with the ambitious studio effort Silver Ship.

Silver Ship is Suzanne Ciani's first album of all-new material since 1999's Turning LP. And like that album, it's a tasteful, often joyful blend of acoustic and electronic instruments, buoyed throughout by Ciani's innate melodic sense. The composer and keyboardist also works with some familiar collaborators, including flutist Matt Eakle, Paul McCandless on reeds, cellist Joe Hébert, guitarist Teja Bell, and bassist Michael Manring. As her earliest releases prove, it's always been Ciani's intention to craft durable songs. That approach elevates her work above the homogeneity that permeates the contemporary instrumental and new age genres at their lowest ebb, and it's no different with Silver Ship. "Sargasso Sea" is a duet between Ciani's piano and the sad-eyed and graceful cello of Hébert, while "Eclipse" perfectly balances solitary contemplation with waves of surging emotion. Not surprisingly, "Open Seas" incorporates some artificially generated ocean swells beneath Eakle's airy flute leads, while opener "For Lise" features one of Ciani's classic melodies -- plaintive, powerfully hopeful, and softly whispered all at once. Silver Ship also takes a few detours, adding percussion and prominent solos from Bell and Eakle for the East African-flavored "Wine Dark Sea" and nodding into a slight new age-jazz cross for "Capri." Also, like Turning, the title track again features vocals. "Silver Ship" is a heartfelt lullaby emboldened by an interestingly vintage-sounding synthesizer tone. Ciani's been at the top of her craft since Velocity of Love in 1984. The crystalline Silver Ship floats there, too.

Suzanne Ciani was one of the first and finest woman artists to make a name for herself in the world of electronic music. Ciani earned a Masters degree in composition from the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied with electronic pioneers Max Matthews, John Chowning, and Don Buchla. In 1975 she moved to New York, where she got involved in the Soho art scene, and also worked with minimalist Philip Glass. She began to hit the big time with the establishment of Ciani Musica, Inc., one of the foremost commercial production companies in the country. Ciani later expanded into film scoring and gained recognition for her work on Lily Tomlin's The Incredible Shrinking Woman as well as the award-winning feature documentary Mother Teresa. Ciani's career as a recording artist, however, took a more indirect route. Her 1982 Japanese release Seven Waves became an underground hit, prompting its American release by Private Music in 1984. Then Velocity of Love came along, which, with its intriguing synthesizer work balanced by strong melodies and pop sensibilities, helped define contemporary instrumental music and the burgeoning genre of new age. Ciani recorded steadily for Private through the 1980s and into the next decade, issuing the Grammy-winning Hotel Luna ('86), Neverland ('88), History of My Heart ('89), and the 1990 solo piano Pianissimo. In 1994 Ciani established the Seventh Wave imprint, and issued the orchestral album Dream Suite. Two years later Pianissimo II apppeared, followed by a live album in 1997. The title track of the 1999 album Turning featured vocals from Chyi-yu. Ciani took a break after third installment in her Pianissimo solo piano series, released in 2001. But she returned four years later with the ambitious studio effort Silver Ship.

Suzanne Ciani (piano, synthesizer); Diane Sorel (vocals); Teja Bell (guitar); Jeremy Cohen (violin); Doug Harmon, Joseph Hebert, Matt Crooker (cello); Matt Eakle, Peter Gordon (flute); Paul McCandless (oboe, alto saxophone, ... Full DescriptionEnglish horn); Rob Zantay (lyricon); Vangelis (synthesizer); Michael Manring, John Peters (fretless bass); Kalani (percussion); Chris Ianuzzi (voyetra); The Young Russia Orchestra.

Suzanne Ciani was one of the first and finest woman artists to make a name for herself in the world of electronic music. Ciani earned a Masters degree in composition from the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied with electronic pioneers Max Matthews, John Chowning, and Don Buchla. In 1975 she moved to New York, where she got involved in the Soho art scene, and also worked with minimalist Philip Glass. She began to hit the big time with the establishment of Ciani Musica, Inc., one of the foremost commercial production companies in the country. Ciani later expanded into film scoring and gained recognition for her work on Lily Tomlin's The Incredible Shrinking Woman as well as the award-winning feature documentary Mother Teresa. Ciani's career as a recording artist, however, took a more indirect route. Her 1982 Japanese release Seven Waves became an underground hit, prompting its American release by Private Music in 1984. Then Velocity of Love came along, which, with its intriguing synthesizer work balanced by strong melodies and pop sensibilities, helped define contemporary instrumental music and the burgeoning genre of new age. Ciani recorded steadily for Private through the 1980s and into the next decade, issuing the Grammy-winning Hotel Luna ('86), Neverland ('88), History of My Heart ('89), and the 1990 solo piano Pianissimo. In 1994 Ciani established the Seventh Wave imprint, and issued the orchestral album Dream Suite. Two years later Pianissimo II apppeared, followed by a live album in 1997. The title track of the 1999 album Turning featured vocals from Chyi-yu. Ciani took a break after third installment in her Pianissimo solo piano series, released in 2001. But she returned four years later with the ambitious studio effort Silver Ship.

Contains songs from HISTORY OF MY HEART, HOTEL LUNA, PIANISSIMO, SEVEN WAVES, THE VELOCITY OF LOVE, NEVERLAND and 2 previously unreleased tracks.

All songs written by Suzanne Ciani, except "Go Gently" and "Sailing To Byzantium" (Suzanne ... Full DescriptionCiani/Jeremy Lubbock).

Live Recording

Personnel includes: Suzanne Ciani (piano); Jane Rutter (flute); Joel Peskin (electric wind instrument).

Suzanne Ciani was one of the first and finest woman artists to make a name for herself in the world of electronic music. Ciani earned a Masters degree in composition from the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied with electronic pioneers Max Matthews, John Chowning, and Don Buchla. In 1975 she moved to New York, where she got involved in the Soho art scene, and also worked with minimalist Philip Glass. She began to hit the big time with the establishment of Ciani Musica, Inc., one of the foremost commercial production companies in the country. Ciani later expanded into film scoring and gained recognition for her work on Lily Tomlin's The Incredible Shrinking Woman as well as the award-winning feature documentary Mother Teresa. Ciani's career as a recording artist, however, took a more indirect route. Her 1982 Japanese release Seven Waves became an underground hit, prompting its American release by Private Music in 1984. Then Velocity of Love came along, which, with its intriguing synthesizer work balanced by strong melodies and pop sensibilities, helped define contemporary instrumental music and the burgeoning genre of new age. Ciani recorded steadily for Private through the 1980s and into the next decade, issuing the Grammy-winning Hotel Luna ('86), Neverland ('88), History of My Heart ('89), and the 1990 solo piano Pianissimo. In 1994 Ciani established the Seventh Wave imprint, and issued the orchestral album Dream Suite. Two years later Pianissimo II apppeared, followed by a live album in 1997. The title track of the 1999 album Turning featured vocals from Chyi-yu. Ciani took a break after third installment in her Pianissimo solo piano series, released in 2001. But she returned four years later with the ambitious studio effort Silver Ship.

Following on the fluttering heels of Velocity of Love, Suzanne Ciani is joined by violinist Steve Kindler, percussionist Kurt Wortman, flautist Peter Gordon, and guitarist John Wheelock for Hotel Luna. The additional musicians flesh out Ciani's rich palette of synthesizers and piano, so that tracks like "Maremosso," with its lush, worldly feel, rings even truer with the addition of flute and violin solos. The sounds of a storm wash predictably through "Rain," but its pattering keyboards are nevertheless well done. It's more textured genius from Ciani, a progressive electronic music pioneer who seems to understand intrinsically where technology ends and the human heart takes over. With this knowledge, she can imbue "Love Song" with appropriate amounts of grace, but juxtapose it with "Simple Song," where jaunty synth flourishes set up a big, brassy (synthetic) fanfare that's irresistible over the track's percolating electronic groove. Later, Ciani's pop sensibilities come to fore with the gorgeous, sweeping melody of "L'Azzuro," which is as romantic an instrumental as any song with words would be. Kindler's violin weaves into Gordon's flute, and both musicians follow the lead of Ciani's breathy synth washes. It's some of Ciani's most accomplished work yet, building brilliantly on its central themes of romance and remembrance.

Suzanne Ciani was one of the first and finest woman artists to make a name for herself in the world of electronic music. Ciani earned a Masters degree in composition from the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied with electronic pioneers Max Matthews, John Chowning, and Don Buchla. In 1975 she moved to New York, where she got involved in the Soho art scene, and also worked with minimalist Philip Glass. She began to hit the big time with the establishment of Ciani Musica, Inc., one of the foremost commercial production companies in the country. Ciani later expanded into film scoring and gained recognition for her work on Lily Tomlin's The Incredible Shrinking Woman as well as the award-winning feature documentary Mother Teresa. Ciani's career as a recording artist, however, took a more indirect route. Her 1982 Japanese release Seven Waves became an underground hit, prompting its American release by Private Music in 1984. Then Velocity of Love came along, which, with its intriguing synthesizer work balanced by strong melodies and pop sensibilities, helped define contemporary instrumental music and the burgeoning genre of new age. Ciani recorded steadily for Private through the 1980s and into the next decade, issuing the Grammy-winning Hotel Luna ('86), Neverland ('88), History of My Heart ('89), and the 1990 solo piano Pianissimo. In 1994 Ciani established the Seventh Wave imprint, and issued the orchestral album Dream Suite. Two years later Pianissimo II apppeared, followed by a live album in 1997. The title track of the 1999 album Turning featured vocals from Chyi-yu. Ciani took a break after third installment in her Pianissimo solo piano series, released in 2001. But she returned four years later with the ambitious studio effort Silver Ship.

Midwest Record Recap
"A great collection for when you need to sink into yourself and block out anything that hinders endorphins."

This is a special collection of Ciani's most romantic music and is her 14th release. Five-time Grammy nominee, composer/pianist Suzanne Ciani is the quintessential romantic and here she takes you to an inner world of beauty, peace and passion that both transports and heals.

Suzanne Ciani was one of the first and finest woman artists to make a name for herself in the world of electronic music. Ciani earned a Masters degree in composition from the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied with electronic pioneers Max Matthews, John Chowning, and Don Buchla. In 1975 she moved to New York, where she got involved in the Soho art scene, and also worked with minimalist Philip Glass. She began to hit the big time with the establishment of Ciani Musica, Inc., one of the foremost commercial production companies in the country. Ciani later expanded into film scoring and gained recognition for her work on Lily Tomlin's The Incredible Shrinking Woman as well as the award-winning feature documentary Mother Teresa. Ciani's career as a recording artist, however, took a more indirect route. Her 1982 Japanese release Seven Waves became an underground hit, prompting its American release by Private Music in 1984. Then Velocity of Love came along, which, with its intriguing synthesizer work balanced by strong melodies and pop sensibilities, helped define contemporary instrumental music and the burgeoning genre of new age. Ciani recorded steadily for Private through the 1980s and into the next decade, issuing the Grammy-winning Hotel Luna ('86), Neverland ('88), History of My Heart ('89), and the 1990 solo piano Pianissimo. In 1994 Ciani established the Seventh Wave imprint, and issued the orchestral album Dream Suite. Two years later Pianissimo II apppeared, followed by a live album in 1997. The title track of the 1999 album Turning featured vocals from Chyi-yu. Ciani took a break after third installment in her Pianissimo solo piano series, released in 2001. But she returned four years later with the ambitious studio effort Silver Ship.

Suzanne Ciani made her career in the world of electronic music, but likes to return to the acoustic keyboard now and again. This is the third installment of the pianist/composer's solo recordings. This is soft music meant to relax and uplift the listener. Featured here are not only new pieces, but also past earlier compositions reworked with new arrangements.

Suzanne Ciani was one of the first and finest woman artists to make a name for herself in the world of electronic music. Ciani earned a Masters degree in composition from the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied with electronic pioneers Max Matthews, John Chowning, and Don Buchla. In 1975 she moved to New York, where she got involved in the Soho art scene, and also worked with minimalist Philip Glass. She began to hit the big time with the establishment of Ciani Musica, Inc., one of the foremost commercial production companies in the country. Ciani later expanded into film scoring and gained recognition for her work on Lily Tomlin's The Incredible Shrinking Woman as well as the award-winning feature documentary Mother Teresa. Ciani's career as a recording artist, however, took a more indirect route. Her 1982 Japanese release Seven Waves became an underground hit, prompting its American release by Private Music in 1984. Then Velocity of Love came along, which, with its intriguing synthesizer work balanced by strong melodies and pop sensibilities, helped define contemporary instrumental music and the burgeoning genre of new age. Ciani recorded steadily for Private through the 1980s and into the next decade, issuing the Grammy-winning Hotel Luna ('86), Neverland ('88), History of My Heart ('89), and the 1990 solo piano Pianissimo. In 1994 Ciani established the Seventh Wave imprint, and issued the orchestral album Dream Suite. Two years later Pianissimo II apppeared, followed by a live album in 1997. The title track of the 1999 album Turning featured vocals from Chyi-yu. Ciani took a break after third installment in her Pianissimo solo piano series, released in 2001. But she returned four years later with the ambitious studio effort Silver Ship.

Live! is Suzanne Ciani'a first live album, recorded March 14 and 15, 1997, at San Francisco's Herbst Theater. You'll hear plenty of inspiration and movement in Ciani's pieces, but, unlike the athletic music of John Tesh, you won't break out in a sweat. "Neverland" begins the album with the snap of a sail filling with wind and surfing on a broad reach. "Eagle" soars higher, with strong melodic lines from violinist Jeremy Cohen and Paul McCandless. Smoother cruising -- and a more extended vision -- is offered on "Sailing to Byzantium," while "Butterflies" offers lighter, but more acrobatic, themes. The album offers plenty of places to dream: "Drifting," the sweet "Go Gently" (a tribute to Ciani's father), "Stream," the magical "Inverness" with its breezes, "Time Stops," and "Anthem." The pace is quickened with inventive rhythmic pieces such as "Samukee," where several of the ensemble help out on percussion; the jaunty melody is carried by McCandless' sassy piccolo sax and Eakle's flute and penny whistle. Ciani's synthesizer carries the plunky rhythm on "Mosaic"; she is then joined by Kalani on bongos, Teja Bell on electric sitar, Paul McCandless on bass clarinet, and Michael Manning on bass. The sonic textures and exotic interplay are invigorating. The highlight for the audience must have been Ciani's standard, "The Velocity of Love"; this breathtaking new arrangement, showcasing Ciani's solo piano, is like swimming in a lagoon in paradise. Ciani dedicates this album to "making dreams come true." Put that to music and you have this album.

Suzanne Ciani was one of the first and finest woman artists to make a name for herself in the world of electronic music. Ciani earned a Masters degree in composition from the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied with electronic pioneers Max Matthews, John Chowning, and Don Buchla. In 1975 she moved to New York, where she got involved in the Soho art scene, and also worked with minimalist Philip Glass. She began to hit the big time with the establishment of Ciani Musica, Inc., one of the foremost commercial production companies in the country. Ciani later expanded into film scoring and gained recognition for her work on Lily Tomlin's The Incredible Shrinking Woman as well as the award-winning feature documentary Mother Teresa. Ciani's career as a recording artist, however, took a more indirect route. Her 1982 Japanese release Seven Waves became an underground hit, prompting its American release by Private Music in 1984. Then Velocity of Love came along, which, with its intriguing synthesizer work balanced by strong melodies and pop sensibilities, helped define contemporary instrumental music and the burgeoning genre of new age. Ciani recorded steadily for Private through the 1980s and into the next decade, issuing the Grammy-winning Hotel Luna ('86), Neverland ('88), History of My Heart ('89), and the 1990 solo piano Pianissimo. In 1994 Ciani established the Seventh Wave imprint, and issued the orchestral album Dream Suite. Two years later Pianissimo II apppeared, followed by a live album in 1997. The title track of the 1999 album Turning featured vocals from Chyi-yu. Ciani took a break after third installment in her Pianissimo solo piano series, released in 2001. But she returned four years later with the ambitious studio effort Silver Ship.

Suzanne Ciani is one of the classiest new age performers of this -- or any other -- era. Turning is her 11th album and her first to include vocals. The title track has romantic lyrics written by Ciani and performed by Chyi Yu. It is the opening track and it is a grabber. That is a good start and Ciani builds on it strongly. Her classical training and her spiritual sensitivity ooze from every chord and every note on this CD. The gentle melodies are elegant and regal, the atmospheres are soft and warm, and the soundscape is lazy and seductive. And the nicest feature of this CD is Ciani herself. Her smiling countenance on the front of the disc is the first clue. In the liner notes she gives up the mystery: "I make these records firstly for myself...(and) to communicate with whomever will listen...(Turning) was a joy for me to make...for me and for you." Any work created with that 12-step philosophy is a guaranteed winner. This is an essential new age classic. It will appeal to fans of Lisa Lynne, Nancy Rumbel, Constance Demby, and Dean Evenson.