The RajMan Review
author: Raj Manoharan (www.rajmanreviews.blogspot.com)
The latest CD from Africa-born, Canada-based keyboardist Hennie Bekker collects fourteen tracks spanning about a dozen albums.
Some of the tunes are piano-based, while others focus on synthesized electronic textures. Many are inspired by Bekker’s homeland and as such feature the natural ambience of those environs. But whatever the style or sound, all of the tracks are of one accord – as the CD’s subtitle states, they are all indeed pieces of relaxing instrumental music.
While the music is soothing and refreshing, it is also engaging and inventive. Highlights include the Miami Vice vibe of “Urban Trance,” the refreshing reverie of “Stormy Sunday,” and the hip, mellow fusion of “Tranquility.”
In terms of overall feel, Bekker is definitely in the league of Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, and Jan Hammer, and listeners who enjoy those artists will find much to like in Bekker.
--Raj Manoharan
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From MainlyPiano
author: Kathy Parsons
"Spectrum: An Anthology of Relaxing Instrumental Music" is a celebration and retrospective of Hennie Bekker’s very impressive multi-award-winning career with more than fifty albums to his credit and over a thousand works he has either composed, arranged, or contributed to. "Spectrum" includes fourteen tracks from eleven of Bekker’s most memorable and best-selling albums from the past twenty years. Born and raised in Zambia near the Congo border, the young Bekker was captivated by the sounds of the African wilderness, the haunting harmonies of tribal chanting, and the rhythmic dialog of drummers communicating between mining camps at dusk. He began playing music at an early age and performed with various bands around South Africa before settling Johannesburg and becoming established in the music industry there. He relocated to Canada in 1987 and worked with Dan Gibson on the first fourteen "Solitudes - Exploring Nature With Music" series. He also composed, arranged, and produced many solo albums, thirty of which are on his own Abbeywood Records label. He has also done a lot of innovative techno work with the band BKS, producing a number of progressive hits popular in the contemporary club scene and earning the 1997 Juno Award for Best Dance Recording. Spectrum stays within the new age/world/ambient parameters, but it is easy to see why Bekker’s artistry suits a very broad range of musical genres.
"Spectrum" opens with “Spring Rain,” a gentle, carefree piece that features keyboards, strings, and voices. “The Heart of Africa” begins with the sounds of African wildlife before a catchy rhythm ignites the music. The playful nature of this piece reminds me of Ray Lynch, and it’s impossible to keep the feet still while the music dances and swirls with delight. “Bahia Nights” has an exotic, mystical quality that soothes with graceful movement and a beautiful melody. “Urban Trance” can send you on a wonderful flight of fancy with its gentle rhythm and dreamy quality. “Amani (Peace)” returns us to Africa, the call of the jungle, and a message of peace. “Alone In a Dream” moves us even deeper into a state of tranquility with piano, strings and keyboard washes. If you aren’t there already, “Elusive Sensation” will melt away any tension or stress you might be experiencing - gorgeous! “Entranced” moves into the ambient realm, dreamy and ethereal. “Always There” is a lovely melodic piano and strings piece (plus keyboard washes and voices) intended for romance - an elegant and eloquent slow dance. “Silent Embrace” ends the collection softly and tenderly, eliciting contentment and a deep sigh. Good stuff, Mr. Bekker!
"Spectrum" is an enchanting work of art and an excellent introduction to Hennie Bekker’s world of music; Bekker’s many fans will be thrilled with this compilation of highlights from his lengthy career. Recommended!
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Review excerpt from Music & Media Focus (www.michaeldiamondmusic.com)
author: Michael Diamond
The prefix “multi-“ will be well used in describing the work of Hennie Bekker, who is a multi-platinum-selling musician, a multi-genre artist, and most certainly a multi-talented composer and arranger whose expansive discography includes over 60 albums. He also has one win and six nominations for the prestigious Juno Award, a Canadian music industry honor that is similar to a Grammy, and he has been named “one of the most prolific and successful figures in contemporary Canadian pop music” by Billboard Magazine.
Hennie is perhaps best known in some circles for providing the music for the first 14 albums in a series entitled "Dan Gibson’s Solitudes – Exploring Nature With Music", which as the title implies, blends Hennie’s soothing melodies with Dan’s globally recorded sounds of nature – a series that has sold literally millions of copies. Hennie’s latest release: "Spectrum" is a well-chosen compilation from a sampling from his many albums over the years. Subtitled: "An Anthology of Relaxing Instrumental Music", the compositions reflect diversity, yet interestingly enough, exhibit a sense of cohesion that makes it feel like a body of work rather than a collage of unrelated tracks.
The album opens with “Spring Rain” which is a perfect start, breezing in like a gentle shower and watering the seeds of the fruit to come – in this case, 13 more tracks from his musical garden. As a keyboardist extraordinaire, Hennie’s lavish piano and synths create a beautiful soundscape with new age and classical overtones. Sounds of life awaken from deep within the jungle as the second song: “The Heart of Africa” begins to beat and marks a shift to a more rhythmic energy. Track 3 takes on a decidedly Brazilian flavor with “Bahia Nights” blending Latin and reggae influences, A highlight for me was “Stormy Sunday” with its synth and sequencer-driven motion that brought to mind artists like Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarre, and early Yanni. By comparison the nature sounds and blissful melodies of “Tranquility” and the more spacious drifting sound of “Entranced” were equally enjoyable.
I could not help being continuously impressed with Hennie’s compositional ability and the level of expertise and creative vision he brings to whatever style of music he plays. Rarely have I heard a recording artist able to cover such diverse musical terrain and do it so well. From tender piano melodies, to dreamy ambient soundscapes and earthy African-influenced grooves, Hennie Bekker is a consummate composer and masterful musician.
For a full length review of this CD, and others, please visit: www.michaeldiamondmusic.com
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