Label: Val Gardena
Music
From my perspective, it always helps to know the meaning
and messages in the music. It makes my listening experience richer and fuller.
Christopher took the title track and gave it some thought. The Native
Americans’ belief about the Saguaro cactus came to mind. That album title is a
perspective that each of these sacred Saguaros is considered to be a unique
individual, surviving on its own despite nature’s extremes. This relates
directly to mankind and how resilient we can be as well. It also makes you
think about living things like trees and how important they are to our
survival.
Christopher set out to continue his explorations into the
more complex compositions and that is what he accomplishes on Grace From Persistence. I had to call it
contemporary instrumental because of the diverse instruments that accompany the
piano of the main artist. I got lost in this music so much that before I
realized it, track 7 was playing and it was getting near the end of this
musical excursion.
Christopher definitely achieves his own Grace From Persistence by continuing
down the path of musical intricacies. Music like this you simply cannot
pigeonhole. If the entire album was like “Cul-De-Sac” for instance, then you
could classify it as jazz. Which by the way is a big step away from the
previous tracks, and it is that kind of change done so well that makes this
recording a special and an important contribution in 2019.
I am consistently in awe of musicians that can take one
main instrument, like the piano, and build these incredible musical stories. As
I always say, music without words presents more of a challenge to convey a
mood, atmosphere, ambiance, or message if you will. When I feel the impact of
the music strongly like I did with Grace
From Persistence it sets the bar higher for the next artist that is attempting
to accomplish the same thing with their music.
All of these thoughts point in a positive direction because
we need each other for inspiration and to set goals. Your interpretation of
this music will be based on your own life situation and overall feelings and
thoughts the moment you listen. I think it’s important to keep one thing in
mind, and that is to listen to this music at different points in the day to see
what it can do for you. It’s a wonderful listening experience that heals and
brings joy. The musicianship is beyond reproach and every track will get and
keep your attention.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
March 31, 2019
Founder of:
Review
Provided By New Age Music Reviews
Tracks:
01. Awakening
02. Get on with It
03. Mother Russia (Fantasy Based on a Theme from Scriabin)
04. Where's Frederick?
05. Beyond the Stars
06. Grace from Persistence
07. Yes and No
08. Weimar Blues (1929)
09. Cul-De-Sac
10. Neitherworld
Tracks:
01. Awakening
02. Get on with It
03. Mother Russia (Fantasy Based on a Theme from Scriabin)
04. Where's Frederick?
05. Beyond the Stars
06. Grace from Persistence
07. Yes and No
08. Weimar Blues (1929)
09. Cul-De-Sac
10. Neitherworld