The Library CD Shelf
Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow
Ann Sweeten
www.annsweeten.com
Orange Band Records
$13.19 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow is an original, new age solo piano album by e
xperienced and talented musician Ann Sweeten. Her diagnosis with leukemia d
uring the album's conception influenced its creation, especially the title,
which speaks to the past, reaches beyond the immediate present, and stretc
hes out to hope in the future. The thoughtful liner notes are especially re
commended, as they express soul-searching emotions swept within the music's
enfolding soundscape. Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow is highly recommended
for both personal and public library music CD collections. The tracks are "
Across the Midnight Sky", "Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow", "Beyond the Clou
ds", "The Empty Swing", "Saying Goodbye", "Philadelphia 22", "Vanish", "Lul
laby for Blackie Boo", "Through Winter Panes", and "Like Smoke Through a Ke
yhole".
The Presence of Wonder
Composed and performed by Pam Asberry
www.pamasberry.com
Recorded, Mastered, and Engineered by Joe Bongiorno
www.pianohaven.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
The Presence of Wonder is a solo piano album composed and performed by Pam
Asberry, a classically musician and professional piano teacher. The songs d
raw upon neoclassical and new age elements, blending tradition and innovati
on into a joyous, vibrant soundscape. A treasure for piano connoisseurs, Th
e Presence of Wonder is highly recommended for gift-giving or public librar
y music CD collections. The tracks are "The Presence of Wonder", "Nebula",
"Lullaby for Mackenzie", "Nocturne", "Above the Clouds", "The Love of Thous
ands", "An Invisible Thread", "Surrender", "Something Found", "Devotion", "
The Kindness of Strangers", "Wishes in the Wind", and "Now". 48 min. 10 sec
.
Megg Farrell & Friends
Megg Farrell
http://www.meggfarrell.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $TBA digital itunes.com spotify.com
Available digitally on iTunes and Spotify, Megg Farrell & Friends is a coun
try album inspired by the deep friendships and shared love of music that Me
gg Farrell found in the southern states of America. Inspired by classic cou
ntry stars such as Patsy Cline and Emmylou Harris, she founded the group "M
egg Farrell & Friends". Their album is an unforgettable celebration of Amer
icana, and a choice pick for fans of the genre! The tracks are "Feelin' Sin
gle", "Lovesick Harmony", "New Orleans Waltz", "When I Learned To Sing", "T
ulsa Queen", "New York Love Song", "Ooh Las Vegas", "Blues In The Womb", an
d "If I Were A Woman".
Benji & Rita
Benji Kaplan and Rita Figueiredo
www.benjiandrita.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Created and performed by Benji Kaplan and Rita Figueiredo, Benji & Rita is
an album of arranged music inspired by classic songs from the couple's home
lands in New York and Brazil. Both Portuguese lyrics are present in this sh
owcase of the best of both music worlds. Rich, emotional, and adventurous,
Benji & Rita is a unique treat for multicultural album connoisseurs! The tr
acks are "Sao Francisco e brasileiro", "Piocera", "Memorial Day", "Valsa da
metropole", "Zenite e Nadir", "Santa Efigenia", "Impetuosa atracao", "Swin
g do jazz", "Cajubim", "Nao armo no moco", "Passatempo", "Bryant Park", "Lu
ndu dos orixas", and "A moura do maracaxa".
Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro Overture
The Great Kat
http://www.greatkat.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $0.99 MP3 amazon.com
Guitarist/violinist The Great Kat, a.k.a. "The World's Fastest Guitar Shred
der", has released another single in which she guitar-shreds a classic work
of music at breakneck speed. Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro Overture is a
revolutionary performance of a timeless composition with unfettered, vivac
ious abandon. An eye-opening new way to experience Mozart, Mozart's The Mar
riage of Figaro Overture is extraordinary, mesmerizing, and highly recommen
ded!
Riptide
Atlas Maior
atlasmaior.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Riptide is a jazz album that draws upon American and Progressive Jazz, Midd
le Eastern and Indian traditions, and Latin American musical elements. Musi
c artist Atlas Maior has crafted original melodies that experiment with maq
amat (the Middle Eastern modal system) as well as harmonic progressions fou
nd in American jazz. A wide range of musical played by talented band member
s are incorporated into the performance: Joshua Thompson on alto saxophone,
Charlie Lockwood on the oud (Middle Eastern fretless lute), Josh Peters on
the oud, and Ted Camat on drums and percussion. Guest artists contribute t
o this bold treasure, highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of ori
ginal jazz creations. The tracks are "The Curse", "Riptide", "Nastaran", "C
hamber of Mirrors", "Cumbia Raposa", "Oryx", "Trata", "Iddaa!!", "Huzzam Hi
ve Pt. 1", "Huzzam Hive Pt. 2", and "Osman Pehlivan".
The Gumption
Tanika Charles
Record Kicks
$14.89 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com
Award-nominated Canadian soul star Tanika Charles presents The Gumption, an
album of songs that speak to heartrending emotions - vulnerability, uncert
ain love, forbidden fruit, and more. Reflecting the will to grow and improv
e, The Gumption carries a lasting beauty that resonates in the listener's h
eart and mind. Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of soul. The
tracks are "Tell Me Something", "Going Home", "Love Overdue", "Remember to
Remember", "Cool Scorpio", "Dans Les Nuages", "Cadillac Moon", "Upside Dow
n", "First & Last", "Look At Us Now", "Since You Been Gone", and "Always Re
stless". 38 min.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo
ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte
rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi
duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo
rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat
ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview
(dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal
muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish
er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number
, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
|
|