New Age Instrumental: Laima Gaizutis-Simply Beautiful Collection II

Release Date: April 28, 2016

Label: Independent

Website

Laima Gaizutis has an interesting and inspiring life story. The roots of success in early America are due to many immigrants bringing their talents to this country. In more modern times Laima’s parents immigrated to Cleveland from Lithuania and that is where she began her lifetime love affair with piano. 

Simply Beautiful Collection II encompasses eleven instrumental tracks with varying degrees of pace and styles. Once you listen to the album you would have to agree that the title is quite appropriate.

Track 4, “I Missed Laughter Most,” I found filled with twists and turns unlike the previous three tracks. The first few tracks set the ambiance and mood if you will while this track offers a sudden change of pace with elements of jazz stirred into the mixture for a bit more color.

After that variance of sound and texture Laima brings back the softer soothing sounds with “Sunlight.” It’s like the light of the new day gently hitting your face as you draw open the curtains in the morning. The small miracles of everyday that we tend to take for granted take on new meaning and importance while listening to this eye opener.

The Holidays are special times for people of all walks of life around the world. One of the most special is our holiday in America we enjoy called Thanksgiving. It is time to give thanks for all the blessings bestowed upon us and our loved ones. The track “Thanksgiving with You” could hold a multitude of meaning however it is does point to a single person in this case and the gratefulness found in the elegant piano of Laima and the layer of electronic keyboards it seems to glide over to give it an airy spiritual feel. We all have so much to give and be thankful for and this song a beautiful reminder of that.

Laima Gaizutis is certainly a gifted individual and piano player, her emotion and sincerity are realized through the keys of her instrument. The examples I gave are just a few of the instrumental delights you will find on this recording. The only track that seemed out of place, while named properly, was “Penny Arcade.” The music was the right fit but not for this album. Two of the most important tracks are the opener and curtain closer. In this case Laima hit the mark when the curtain opened and everywhere else in between but keep in mind this is my opinion and a matter of what I would expect in a recording such as this but some folks may find it as a pleasant surprise. Even so I loved 10 of the 11 tracks; they put the spotlight on some very talented fingers and a person that is in touch with her inner spirit with the gift of translating that to something beautiful with sounds.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: I Missed Laughter Most, Sunlight, Thanksgiving With You

Tracks:
 01. Whispers
02. Midnight
03. Touched
04. I Miss the Laughter Most
05. Sunlight
06. Long Summer Night
07. Stillness
08. Thanksgiving with You
09. Lilting
10. An Angel's Dream
11. Penny Arcade
 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck- New Age Music Reviews Founder

April 20, 2016

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews