Release Date: October
1, 2014
Label: Independent
As I turned on this album, I went about my daily
activities and didn’t realize what I was listening to. The songs were not in
any particular order as sometimes happens when things are downloaded and many
of the classical pieces were first. They made me pause and look to see the
titles, but when it came to the piece “Remember Me” I sucked in my breath and
had to investigate further.
I grew up on military bases. My step father was in the
Navy and you dealt with long deployments and families being fractured. Coping
was what you did. As I really began to listen to this album and understood what
Peter Jennison was really writing about, the tears began to slide down my face.
My brother was a Marine deployed to many of the same
places and every time he was sent over, my heart lodged in my throat. The
pride, the terror, the eventual homecoming and the birth of his child. It is
all a coming home.
Peter Jennison along with some incredible folks from
Imaginary Road have crafted an album that each and every person who has had
someone in the military has to listen to. It brings voice to the emotion of
both the soldier and the families that long for their return. The artists
included in this album are: Charlie Bisharat (horn player), Jeff Oster
(percussion), Jeff Haynes (Pat Metheny Group), cellist Eugene Friesen (Paul
Winter Consort), Heather Rankin (vocalist), Will Ackerman (producer) and many
others.
“Remember Me” is the first track on the album. Heather
Rankin’s soulful voice joins the haunting backdrop of percussion and piano and
the hair on my neck stood up. This song is for all who have lost a soldier to
death, sealing them into the cold hard ground. For soldiers who have stood
against great odds without fear only to give the greatest sacrifice a man or
woman can give. Strength comes from home and home is where they return. This
piece is the absolute highlight of the album and every time I play it, tears
prickle in my eyes.
“Farewell My Friend” is for all those lost in the wages
of war. Classical in tone, with tender strains of piano and violin, it sears
into your heart and reminds you of those who have passed on in the name of God
and Country-to protect and serve us all. It is bitter. It is sweet. It is the
sound of sacrifice and blood spilling into the ground.
“A New Day” is the coming home. It is the tender feeling
of seeing normal again after the reality of battle. It is the poignant strain
of the violin as you look into the eyes of your son or daughter or wife as they
wrap their arms around you in homecoming. It is the beginning of change. Such a
beautiful piece and so full of hope and wonderment. Home…
Peter Jennison captures the evocative emotion of a
soldier deployed overseas longing to be with his family once more. Listening to
this album brought every war to mind and loss that always follows. The
sacrifice made and freely given by our soldiers every day is so seamlessly
given voice in this album. It will break your heart and set it soaring all at
the same time.
5/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: Remember Me, Farewell My Friend, a New Day
Tracks:
1. Remember Me (Sgt. Mackenzie)
2. Waiting
3. The Journey to You
4. Taps
5. Farewell to a Friend
6. Reflection
7. The Moment
8. New Day
9. Coming Home
Tracks:
1. Remember Me (Sgt. Mackenzie)
2. Waiting
3. The Journey to You
4. Taps
5. Farewell to a Friend
6. Reflection
7. The Moment
8. New Day
9. Coming Home
November 2, 2014
Review
Provided By New Age Music Reviews