It’s About The Rose
Karen Marie Garrett
This one’s pretty nice. I put it on and thought “O great another album of pretty piano music I’M JUST NOT IN THE MOOD" but Garrett transcends pretty for lost, lonely, and introspective. This works as “play it in the background for a nice dinner” but I can see sitting in a chamber concert hall actually paying attention.
I should throw in a caveat here, it doesn’t bother me but there’s basically two patterns in her left hand that alternate, there’s la la la laaaaaaa, in three, and an Alberti bass of LA la La la La la or La la la La la la. The song that forgoes all of this, “Café Expreso,” kind of sticks out like a sore thumb and you’re like “what’s this doing here?” It's happier & also uses some odd piano prep.
The left hand repetition was soothing actually and the melodies on top while simple, are very well planned, very… ethereal? That’s a good word. Occasionally a bit more adventurous than you think it’s going to be. It’s beyond simple “new age.” But I’m curious if the bass lines were planned that way, or perhaps this is a case of the right hand not knowing what the left is doing.
While it’s basically a solo piano album she’s got a fine supporting cast including Grammy winners Will Ackerman, Corin Nelson, and Eugene Friesen. There’s a few drums here and there; the Spartan sound of djembe and piano on “Moon Night” is pretty inspiring; the best of all the ensemble playing is the cello and violin accompaniments that add a smooth suave depth to several of her songs.
Anyway if you’re looking for something to put on behind a bit of soul searching, this one should do the trick. For me as a "critic" I think the best way to decide if I like a CD is ask myself "will I play it again?" So yep, I will.
******
I should say this to everyone making a CD; my eyes aren't perfect but they're not THAT bad, but I had a bit of a time reading the text which is small-point black over dark red on a very glossy surface. A lot of artists do this, they sacrifice the ability of their fans to read the lyrics or bios for the sake of the look of the CD. Let me suggest you can do both; make it artsy and make it readable. I've seen white on light gray, black over a very busy black and white photo... websites and myspaces do the same thing. if you don't want us to read it, just don't put it in.
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