Album Notes

Yamaha Artist Joyce Valentine's second CD is receiving applause:

"There are alot of good to excellent pianists out there, but when a REALLY outstanding one comes along, what a difference it makes! Joyce Valentine is such a pianist. With incredible chops and some wonderful ideas for bringing new life to Christmas music, "A Valentine Christmas" is a truly exceptional holiday CD. The pieces were chosen from some of Valentine's personal favorites as well as from her mother's collection of international Christmas music. The familiar ones keep the CD warm and friendly, and the more obscure ones add a freshness not found on many holiday CDs.
Valentine's style is classical without being remote or aloof, and the arrangements are full, powerful, and emotional. The pieces are the more "serious" songs of the seanos - no Santa or "Jingle Bells" - and the mood is darkely gorgeous. George Winston's influence can be heard in her arrangement of "Carol of the Bells", but Valentine's style is uniquely her own. All of the songs are outstanding arrangements, so it is difficult to pick any favorites - they're all really good! Some of the songs stand alone and others are incorporated into medleys. This is a Christmas CD sure to highlight your holidays! Very highly recommended!" Kathy Parsons,Solo Piano Publications

Kathy Parsons has also reviewed Joyces other two CD's: "Wind in My Face", and "Reunion". She calls "Wind in My Face" "an impressive collection of original piano solos... She can make the piano weep or set it on fire, and deftly conveys every mood in between...Valentine's music would be in a league with Phililp Aaberg's and Clara Ponty's." She calls "Reunion" "a stunning album of piano and cello duets... there isn't a weak track on this wonderful CD. I am blown away by it each time I listen."
Read Kathy's complete review at each one of the CD's location at CD Baby.

"A Valentine Christmas" is a CD which begs to be replayed the moment it is over. Joyce's masterful playing adds subtleties to well known tunes and introduces us to new ones. I found this to be an exciting experience, hearing old favorites persented in a unique way-a way which added a quality to carols which I mistakenly thought could never be improved upon. A superb piece of work." The Higher Source Publication

"Joyce Valentine's Chrsitmas recital in both technically remarkable and laden with an awesome emotional appeal. As her accomplished hands fill the room with notes, she achieves unusual resonance of sound and spirit.
"A Valentine Christmas" offers spiritual comfort during the darkening season. Its full-bodied sound speaks of renewal and foreshadows the lengthening of the days. With her unusual rendition of "Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming" and inclusion of "Song of the Birds", Ms. Valentine makes a beautiful seasonal statement. She does not, however, wander too far from the sacred, carefully including a simple, traditional take on "Silent Night" as well as a breathtakingly beautiful "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Her unmatched technical resume notwithstanding, Joyce Valentine delivers Christmas from the heart." www.christmasreviews.com

Joyce is using digital technology to record her original music and arrangements. She performed, arranged, and produced her first two CD's without ever playing a note in a recording studio. "Wind in My Face", a collection of original music and "A Valentine Christmas" were recorded on her Yamaha Disklavier DC3 digital/acoustic grand piano in her home.

The Seattle Times described the process:

"A Valentine Christmas" by pianist Joyce Valentine was recorded by a digital piano that the pianist never touched. She played the 15 carols at home on the Yamaha digital grand, doing all the takes in the comfort of her living room where her piano put them on a floppy disc; the disc then went to Los Angeles, where it was stuck into a 9-foot digital grand and digitally recorded there. Talk about mailing in your performance! And it's a nice performance, too. The arrangements are quite effective, and the playing has all the nuances of attack, touch and shading that you would expect of a more conventional recording process."

Yamaha's Accent Magazine featured Joyce in their Spring 2000 issue:

"Joyce Valentine stretches recording boundaries. She is merging state-of-the-art technology with traditional music...The album (A Valentine Christmas) offers deeply felt solo arrangements of 15 holiday songs."

Joyce began her piano studies with her mother at the age of two and one-half, giving her first public performance just four months later. After her first full length recital at the age of six, she was awarded a scholarship to the Juilliard School's Preparatory Division. She received her
Bachelor's degree from the Juilliard School. Later the New York Times reviewed her debut in Carnegie Recital Hall with acclaim.

"an impressive debut...altogether thrilling...a finale that brought the house down."

Following her New York debut, she began to compose. The Albany Times had this to say about her performance of original music:

"A program of passion effusive in its beauteous moments. Joyce Valentine could make each day Valentine's Day...a brilliant series of works from her own pen."

Joyce has released three CD's: "Wind in My Face", "A Valentine Christmas", and "Reunion", a collection of original music and arrangements for piano and cello. All three CD's are available at CD Baby.

"A Valentine Christmas" has also been released in the MIDI format for the Disklavier Piano by Virtuoso Music, and "Reunion" has been released by Yamaha as a PianoSoft Plus Audio disk for use in their new Mark 111 Disklavier Piano.