Lillian
New member
Pianist Marika Takeuchi has a new album, COLORS IN THE DIARY, her fourth acclaimed recording. It was produced by Will Ackerman, one of the top producers of new age music in the world. He has produced dozens of #1 instrumental recordings. Not only is he a renowned musician in his own right, but he also founded Windham Hill Records, the most successful new age label in history, and back then he worked with artists like pianist George Winston, a superstar in the genre.
COLORS IN THE DIARY not only features Takeuchi on piano playing solo on a third of the album, but also her musical interaction with cellist Eugene Friesen and violinist Si-jing Huang. This makes for a well-rounded album with different styles and feelings, but also demonstrates much great back-and-forth musical exchanges between the musicians. Each is given opportunities to solo, but at times the layers are fascinating as each one does their thing simultaneously and the whole mixture blends perfectly.
The first half of the album is quite intriguing (with the up-and-down pacing of pieces such as “Frozen Lake), but the second half might even be better (like the catchiness of “Nostalgia”). The best thing to do is find some streaming excerpts online and listen awhile to see if this is your cup of tea. Maruika has found great favor within the new age and neo-classical crowds.
COLORS IN THE DIARY not only features Takeuchi on piano playing solo on a third of the album, but also her musical interaction with cellist Eugene Friesen and violinist Si-jing Huang. This makes for a well-rounded album with different styles and feelings, but also demonstrates much great back-and-forth musical exchanges between the musicians. Each is given opportunities to solo, but at times the layers are fascinating as each one does their thing simultaneously and the whole mixture blends perfectly.
The first half of the album is quite intriguing (with the up-and-down pacing of pieces such as “Frozen Lake), but the second half might even be better (like the catchiness of “Nostalgia”). The best thing to do is find some streaming excerpts online and listen awhile to see if this is your cup of tea. Maruika has found great favor within the new age and neo-classical crowds.
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