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Review by Bill Binkelman On her website, pianist Rebekah Janell's "voice" on the piano is compared to Kenny G's saxophone. To that I say "Heresy!" Janell's piano work is much more enjoyable and sincere than the popular saxophonist. Where "G's" music is showy, ostentatious, and even schmaltzy, Sounds from my Heart is charming, rings true to my ears (from an emotional resonance standpoint), and is never overly pyrotechnic or too concerned with displaying technique. Granted, these fifteen instrumentals are all pretty much straight-ahead new age solo piano music, in the soft romantic vein as some other notables such as Robin Spielberg, Jim Chappell, or Michael Dulin, to name just a few contemporaries, but Janell's playing is warm, friendly and very easy on the soul. Don't expect either minimalism or somber melodies, and you'll probably find yourself slipping into a pleasant dreamy state while listening to this album. I put it on while cooking dinner one night and was impressed by how often I "noticed" the music, just enough to entertain me and add a little extra element of fun to preparing the meal. There are some moments where the artist reaches just a tad too high on the drama scale, but those are few and far between. Most of the songs here are low-key, warm and romantic tunes, such as the opening "That's How We Know It's Real" or "Only With You," while others aim for a restrained yet still somewhat forceful emotional impact, e.g. "It Is No Secret (how much I love you)." The softer compositions are where I think Janell's talent shines brightest, although she can handle a variety of moods with ease. As stated above, there are times when she pushes the melody a little too much and then the music takes on a subtle air of melodrama. Mostly, though, she trusts her instinct and follows the adage "less is more" when it comes to underlining the intended emotion of a song. Obviously, with track titles such as I have listed earlier, plus others like "I'll Need You For All Time," "It Is Enough That You Love Me," and others in a similar vein, you know you're getting a romantic collection of piano music. However, I think you'll be as surprised as I was to not hear overwrought sentimentalism or music awash in cliché. In addition, for an independent release, the engineering and production is solid. While I would have preferred a mix of "happy" with some more reflective pieces, for what this aims to be, i.e. a musical love letter of sorts, Sounds from my Heart strikes me as genuine, sincere and well-performed. Recommended. |
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