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CD REVIEW: Craig Urquhart - Within Memory
By JJ Biener - 08/09/2010 - 11:40 PM EDT
Artist: Craig Urquhart
Album: Within Memory
Website: http://www.craigurquhart.com/
Genre: New Age
CD Review:
During my tenure as a music reviewer, I
have received many CD's of solo piano music. As you might expect,
the quality of these submissions has varied greatly. Some have been
inspired, others less so. It is a rare musician who can produce
piano music that is consistently interesting and engaging. As a
piano player myself, I can appreciate the difficulty involved. That is what makes Within Memory
by Craig Urquhart worthy of discussion. Within Memory is not
his first CD, it is his eighth (seven solo piano, one with tenor
Michael Slattery). Yet, there is no evidence that Mr Urquhart is
struggling to find new musical territory to explore. No hint that
his well of musical inspiration is running dry. While it is clear the same mind is at
work in each piece, each song is unique and colorful. Each piece
stakes out its own territory and stands on its own. Each piece makes
a place for itself in the listener's consciousness and settles in for
the duration. Most piano music can easily be
relegated to the background to accompany whatever you happen to be
doing in the foreground. This is music that can command your full
attention. Each piece on Withing Memory is melodically
interesting and harmonically rich. While the pieces are structurally
sound, they do not fall into the trap of being predictable. They
take you on a journey where the destination is unknown until you
arrive, and only then does the destination seem obvious. I may play piano myself, and I
certainly have a great love for the instrument. But that said, I
don't have much patience for those who do not play it well. That
makes it all the more wonderful when I find someone who plays with
skill and sensitivity and who can write for the instrument with such
understanding. Craig's website can be found at
http://www.craigurquhart.com.
If you would like to listen to some samples of the music on this CD
or perhaps purchase it, click on the CD Baby link below.
During my tenure as a music reviewer, I
have received many CD's of solo piano music. As you might expect,
the quality of these submissions has varied greatly. Some have been
inspired, others less so. It is a rare musician who can produce
piano music that is consistently interesting and engaging. As a
piano player myself, I can appreciate the difficulty involved.That is what makes Within Memory
by Craig Urquhart worthy of discussion. Within Memory is not
his first CD, it is his eighth (seven solo piano, one with tenor
Michael Slattery). Yet, there is no evidence that Mr Urquhart is
struggling to find new musical territory to explore. No hint that
his well of musical inspiration is running dry. While it is clear the same mind is at
work in each piece, each song is unique and colorful. Each piece
stakes out its own territory and stands on its own. Each piece makes
a place for itself in the listener's consciousness and settles in for
the duration. Most piano music can easily be
relegated to the background to accompany whatever you happen to be
doing in the foreground. This is music that can command your full
attention. Each piece on Withing Memory is melodically
interesting and harmonically rich. While the pieces are structurally
sound, they do not fall into the trap of being predictable. They
take you on a journey where the destination is unknown until you
arrive, and only then does the destination seem obvious. I may play piano myself, and I
certainly have a great love for the instrument. But that said, I
don't have much patience for those who do not play it well. That
makes it all the more wonderful when I find someone who plays with
skill and sensitivity and who can write for the instrument with such
understanding. Craig's website can be found at
http://www.craigurquhart.com.
This review also appears on The Music Grapevine.
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