Heard one of the songs from "Hearts Journey" on the radio and ordered the CD. LOVED IT. I didn't realize Shannon was from my neighborhood...I live in Cedar Rapids, Ia. Anyway, I love her rich, full, sound and most of all, her choice of songs. Way to go!!!
Patrick Murphy
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From Vinton, Iowa comes a heart-warming debut journey through sound from Shannon Janssen. Playing the ivories since she was eight years old, Shannon's debut effort illustrates that poignancy through well placed piano chords is still as powerful as ever. At just over 47 minutes, the 12 tracks on Heart Journey make an excellent companion for those days of reflection or for sharing time with someone special. 

With its roots firmly planted in the new age instrumental genre, Heart Journey never becomes pretentious or overbearing. Rather, Shannon has the rare gift to keep her music in check, and presents her ideas honestly and openly. One comes away with the feeling that Shannon did not compromise anything during the recording of this album, nor did she attempt to make it something other than a straight-forward, piano based experience. 

Heart Journey is not strictly piano by the way. Mark Pence also provides a goodly amount of strings, providing a complimentary backdrop for Shannon to work with. The result is a well-balanced, satisfying musical experience that is always appreciated. 

Inevitably, an artist such as Shannon Janssen can be compared to Suzanne Ciani or Lorie Line. In fact, Heart Journey is as expressive and heartfelt as anything recorded by Ciani and Line, and I think a concert featuring the trio would be very interesting. 

Some tracks to note on Heart Journey include the welcoming opening piece called "Love's Serenade". This track wastes little time getting to the "heart" of the matter, and immediately it is clear that Shannon is out to impress with this album. I also enjoyed the relatively pensive "Seaside Nocturne", which evokes imagery of a gray day by the seashore. 

"Longing" is a simple yet beautiful composition that again manages to go right for the heart. "Moonlight Mist" is almost on the verge of being considered dark, but in the company of the tracks on this recording, it serves as a nice counter-balance to some of the more cheerful pieces. 

Shannon Janssen has created a memorable album in Heart Journey. In the vast sea of solo piano releases, it is becoming far more difficult to get enough attention to albums that truly deserve it, but this debut certainly has what it takes to make people sit up and take notice. Keep an eye out for this artist...I expect we'll be hearing more from her in the not too distant future.
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If you are looking for a piece of heaven right here on earth you can start with Shannon Janssen and her CD “Heart Journey.”  The title of the recording is very fitting.  Her music comes flowing from her heart to her hands and then to the keys of the piano in one magical transfer of divinity. Any time I ever hear soothing spiritual music like this the entire world takes a back seat and I am able to breathe a sigh of relief and appreciate the day that has been given me.  I honestly believe that each day is a gift full of gifts; we just have to stop to see them and enjoy them.  I am guilty of not doing that on a regular basis.  Music is such a beautiful way to mirror our thoughts, emotions, and the spiritual nature of our God given souls. I am thankful for artists such as Shannon that do not need vocals to accompany their music. The music is enough to pass on their message.  Her message helped me to refocus and ground myself. 

If you enjoy new age spiritually based instrumental piano music, it doesn’t get much better than this. Shannon Janssen is a blessed woman. She has been given the gift of purity from a place in the heart. Yes it is a journey, and one will you want to take more than once. Pick up this CD and you find peace in the music and calmness in your soul. Let the music lead the way.
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“Heart Journey” is pianist Shannon Janssen’s debut CD, and what a promising debut it is! Her twelve original compositions are full of life and emotion. While most of the pieces are quiet and thoughtful, there is a wonderful passion running through all of them. Janssen’s piano is accompanied by subtle and tasteful orchestrations composed and performed by Mark Pence. There are many CDs where I wish the accompaniments had been left out, but these enhancements are outstanding on every track. A church pianist and piano teacher for many years, Ms Janssen also plays regularly for a local department store and hotel. In the business settings, I’m sure her playing is required to be of a more background nature, as these pieces would cause shoppers and party-goers to gather around the piano for more, more, more! 

All of the tracks on “Heart Journey” are excellent. Several of the pieces are light and airy, and others are darker and deeper. My favorite is “Moonlight Mist”, a moody and passionate piece about misty shadows cast over the landscape by a full moon. Bigger than most of the other pieces on the CD, this is one that makes my fingers itch - I want to play it! The dark and mysterious qualities of this composition make it a real stand-out. “Longing” is another real beauty. The aching feeling of the simple melody goes right to the heart. “Seaside Nocturne” beautifully describes the peaceful ocean in the moonlight - dark, sparkling, and breathtaking. “Shadows of a Forgotten Dream” is almost a swirling dance - peaceful and quiet while gradually building energy to a burst of exhilaration, and then winding down only to begin building the next energetic burst; the ending is nostalgic and melancholy. 

Shannon Janssen is a wonderfully expressive pianist/composer, and “Heart Journey” is a CD I highly recommend. Parts of the CD remind me of Suzanne Ciani and Kevin Kern, so if you like those artists, I think you’ll like this album a lot. Listening samples are available at www.heartjourney.net.
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