Impressions in Black and White

Jeff Bjorck - Impressions in Black and White

Impressions in Black and White
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CD Details

Artist: Jeff Bjorck
Performer: Jeff Bjorck
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2005-06-01
Music Label: Pure Piano Music
Soundtracks:
  1. Day By Day
  2. Feather's Flight
  3. Walking with Tevye
  4. Return to Catskill Meadow
  5. Campfire Rememberance
  6. Sun Shower
  7. All I See Is Air
  8. First Carnival
  9. La Sonrisa Del Sol
  10. Swans
  11. Be Still My Soul

Music reviews of Impressions in Black and White

Music Review: from Solo Piano Publications
Rating: 5 Stars

"Impressions in Black and White" is pianist/composer/Renaissance-man Jeff Bjorck's third release to date. While Bjorck's first two albums were inspired by nature, most of the music from "Impressions" came primarily from his imagination. A clinical psychologist and professor at a theological seminary in Southern California, Dr. Bjorck always has a lot of diverse irons in the fire, and his music reflects those various influences. This is a mostly peaceful solo piano album, with a few more upbeat and energetic pieces that allow us to see another side of Bjorck's musical personality. As he did on his first albums, he has framed his original compositions with two classic hymns, "Day By Day" and "Be Still My Soul," which happens to be my favorite track on this CD.

"Feather's Flight" is another favorite. With the left hand playing the part of a gentle breeze and the right hand a floating feather, this is truly an impressionistic piece that is hypnotic and soothing. "Walking With Tevye" is quite different. Referring to the lead character in "Fiddler On the Roof," this is Bjorck's idea of what it would be like to join the milkman on his delivery route. Very minor and Russian-sounding, this piece has a lot of energy behind its melancholy melody - a very interesting and enjoyable concept. "Return to Catskill Meadow" is a variation on a theme from an earlier piece, and is Bjorck at his best. The spaces between the notes are as important as the notes themselves, and the beautiful fluidity makes it feel like an inspired improvisation. One of my favorites of Bjorck's previous works is "Desert Cloudburst" (now available in sheet music!), which so wonderfully describes a rainstorm in the desert. "Sun Shower" is similar with its percussive "fat" raindrops splashing on the ground and causing steam and rainbows - played with energy and enthusiasm. "All I See Is Air" is a tale of unrequited love that Bjorck originally composed when he was sixteen. Hope and longing fill this sad and touching piece. "First Carnival" is an autobiographical recollection of Bjorck's own experience as an excited and hyperactive child, running breathlessly from ride to ride and to all of the exhibits. Light and full of fun, this may be a bit of a surprise for Bjorck's fans, but I like it! "Swans" is another quiet, introspective composition that reflects the grace of a pair of swans gliding on the water as the sun sets - very peaceful and serene! The closing hymn, "Be Still My Soul" is breathtaking in its beauty. A favorite of both of his parents' as well as his hero's, this quiet hymn obviously has very deep meaning for Bjorck, and his arrangement is so emotional and personal that I was immediately enraptured by it. I could listen to this one all day!

"Impressions in Black and White" is one of those albums that gets better the more you listen to it - I like that kind of complexity! There is always something new each time you hear it. Recommended!
More Impressions in Black and White free music reviews:
1

Description of Impressions in Black and White

Jeff Bjorck returns with IMPRESSIONS IN BLACK AND WHITE, his third Pure Piano release. Whereas nature inspired his first two CDs, this third effort?s compositions sprang primarily from Jeff?s imagination and a colorful palette of childhood memories. The liner notes tell the stories behind each piece, and Bjorck encourages his listeners to read them while playing the CD for a richly nostalgic experience. The shift from nature to imaginative impressions is also reflected in the departure from colorful panoramic photos which graced his previous CDs. For this new disc, Bjorck digitally created an impressionist piano image in black and white, but he insists that ?the music is always in full color!? Recorded primarily in 2004, these eleven pieces were composed over the past four years with two exceptions: All I See Is Air (1977) and Return To Catskill Meadow (1998). Played softly, IMPRESSIONS presents fresh "quiet music to calm the heart in a noisy world." Many pieces on this new disc are more vibrant, however, and the listener is encouraged to turn up the volume on occasion for optimal enjoyment! Jeff notes, ?I hope that these IMPRESSIONS will give my listeners the emotional, classically styled music they have come to expect, while gently introducing them to my more energetic side!?

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