LOREN GOLD: All Around Me

Loren Gold

All Around Me

© 2003 Fill The Pool Music. ASCAP (650113800426)

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New Age music's brightest new star and piano man with his debut release. Produced, arranged and accompanied by flutist Nicholas Gunn, this CD is brilliant in composition and tender to the touch.

tracks

1 Cascade
2 Falling
3 The Magic Mirror
4 All Around Me
5 Jake's Dream
6 Snow
7 A Song for Nancy
8 Midnight Blue
9 The Morning After
10 Sounds of the Mersey
11 Snow Revisited
12 Searching
13 Until Tomorrow

notes

REVIEWS:

AMG EXPERT REVIEW: "From the classical music he played in his childhood to his later love for pop stars like Billy Joel and Elton John, Loren Gold's life has been defined by his romance with the acoustic piano. Throughout his multi-faceted career as a teacher, musical director, and accompanist on a variety of keyboards, he developed unique interests in all the latest technologies. Yet when he began to compose his own music, the simple power of the ivories kept drawing him home. Gold blends many of his musical experiences and influences on his lush, lilting debut, painting beautiful colors around gorgeous instrumental pop melodies. Gold follows in the tradition of the George Winstons and Jim Brickmans, but enjoys incorporating outside flavors like percussion, synth orchestration, and the flute of producer Nicholas Gunn into the mix. All Around Me plays like a compelling story told on a lush musical landscape, with Gold's trademark tender touch endeavoring into more intense dynamics on various tracks. Highlights are the elegant and wistful opening tune, "Cascade"; the more percussive pop/rock-flavored, low tone-edged "The Magic Mirror"; the film score-like sweep of the title track; the soulful melancholy of "Snow," enhanced by an emotional orchestral harmony and Gunn's dreamy flute; "A Song for Nancy," which incorporates some of the tribal percussion elements prevalent in Gunn's music; the smooth jazz-flavored "Midnight Blue"; and "Searching," the piano/flute duet that launched the whole session." - Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide


Loren Gold's "All Around Me" is one of the best albums of the year. Some of the thirteen tracks are solo piano, and others are piano with flute, synth, sax, and/or percussion (or a combination). For Gold's longtime fans, "All Around Me" is comprised of the music from his earlier album, "Reflections of Gold", with most of the songs retitled and remixed with Nicholas Gunn's arrangements and accompaniments to Gold's piano. "Reflections of Gold" has been one of my favorite albums since its release in 1998, so I was skeptical that it could be improved on. I was wrong! Gunn's touches really brighten up the pieces and flesh them out, so if you have "Reflections", you'll love "All Around Me", too..

My favorite track is still "Falling", which is solo piano this time out. A little melancholy with a catchy rhythm, there is something irresistible about this song. The addition of bass and percussion to "The Magic Mirror" augments the mystery of the piece and adds some sparks. "Searching" is darkly passionate with a lost quality befitting the title. Gunn's flute intensifies those lonely feelings, making them haunting - a gorgeous piece! "Cascade", which I play as a piano solo, takes on a whole new life with flute and rhythm. This is a bright, more upbeat song that absolutely sparkles. "Jake's Dream" is "Short Line" without the train whistle that scared me to death in the car! Sweet and loving as a piano solo, it is a gentle piece that seems to smile. "Snow", another favorite, is given two treatments. The first is orchestrated with synth strings, flute, and percussion. The second is solo piano. Both are wonderful!

Loren Gold is an artist who needs to be heard. His music is accessible, and holds up exceptionally well to repeated listenings. "All Around Me" is very highly recommended! It is available from many online retailers.

Kathy Parsons
Solo Piano Publications



"Loren Gold's original compositions are filled with lovely melodies, some gentle, some with a driving beat. His technical skill on the piano is awe-inspiring. He doesn't so much hit the keys as caress them, coaxing subtle nuances that will go straight to your heart. His original melodies offer joy and rewards the attentive listener again and again. For highly original, contemporary piano music, look no further..."
- New Age Retailer.

"I am a big fan of Loren Gold's music. His current CD is playing as I write this, and has been in my CD player since I got it. I find it music to write by, which is a way of saying its many moods turn me on and send me into a creative zone. I like being there. It is a wonderful experience I urge you to have."
- Harve Bennett, Golden Globe Winning Producer - Dreamworks SKG.

"The longer I write for this magazine, the more amazed I become at how many really great pianist/composers there are out there. With a solo instrument, it can be difficult to develop an identifiable style that sets an artist apart from the rest. Loren Gold could be well on his way to doing just that. One often reads the criticism that more contemporary pianists need to discover minor chords. They're here! Gentle and thoughtful throughout, this CD is no snooze. It seems to get better and deeper with each listening, although I liked it the first time, too. This is not background music - it begs to be savored! This is one of my favorite albums."
- Kathy Parsons, Wind and Wire Magazine.

Wunnerful, wunnerful, wunnerfulllll, October 12, 2001
Reviewer: the_entwife (see more about me) from the frosted window pane in Alaska
I see that the second cut from this CD is available as an MP3 download. Do not hesitate!! This track is an incredible solo piano piece that will treat your ears and your soul, even though it is only about three minutes long. I have listened to it over and over again. The rest of the CD is not like that one cut, however. The other pieces are closer to smooth jazz, with a full-sounding group, but all the tunes are composed and performed by Loren Gold. The CD is produced, recorded and mixed by Nicholas Gunn, who also plays flute, percussion, strings and additional synthesizers. The awesome sax on "Midnight Blue" is played by Rob Russell. This is a great CD to listen to at night, or when you feel the need for intelligent music that doesn't blast you out of your chair and get you twitchy. I would say that the second cut alone is worth the cost of the CD, but you can get it on MP3. Don't download that one track, and neglect to buy the rest. The entire CD is really worth your while. Besides, we should be supporting artists like Loren Gold, just so they can keep on creating music for us.... - Amazon.com Top 500 Reviewer


"Oh, man. GREAT disc. Congratulations to Loren on some great work. This really is great stuff. Congratulations on an outstanding CD! And a debut disc, at that! I'd advise Loren to go ahead and quit the day job."
- Ken Baker, Program Director of Radio Kansas.

"Thanks for sending the beautiful music. I am just playing it for the first time right now and I am pleased. You have a nice, delicate touch on your instrument which I like. I suppose there could be Keith Jarrett and others influence but the more I hear it the more it sounds uniquely you. Wishing you all the best with all your projects."
- Don Campau, Program Director of No Pigeonholes / Lonely Whistle.

"Excellent collection. We are sent a ton of piano oriented collections, but yours is definitely the crème of the crop."
- Ric Schmidt, Program Director of KNOM.

"Your music is both peaceful and flowing. There are many solo piano albums around that are what I call 'meandering' - they go nowhere and have no definite melody. Each of your pieces has its own melody and the music moves. It makes you feel and I like that."
- Louise Higman, WUOT.

Loren Gold shows the great usefulness the piano has for him as his main vehicle for expression. The artist wishes to explain in sounds what the feelings express, and to do so he utilizes the instrument he has most available to him. This is how he succeeds in creating a series of lyric pieces of an extreme sensitivity, apt for introspection. The music invites us to reflection and to the pacification of the spirit. Although in quite parts there are piano solos, in others the piano is accompanied by several acoustic instruments.
- Sarah Tomblin, Amazing Sounds.

"One of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard."
- Steve Parlato, Program Director of KQEX.


"Loren Gold's debut piano CD is a finely crafted album. In fact, the album is so finely tuned it is difficult to imagine this is his first effort. Loren's attention to melody and structure betray either an exceptional gift or years of performance experience& perhaps both. Loren successfully manages to straddle the fine line between romantic pop piano music and real artistry."
- David Nevue, Midnight Rain Productions.

BIO:
From the classical music he played in his childhood to his later love for pop stars like Billy Joel and Elton John, Loren Gold's life has been defined by his romance with the acoustic piano. Throughout his multi-faceted career as a teacher, musical director and accompanist on a variety of keyboards, he developed unique interests in all the latest technologies. Yet when he began to compose his own music, the simple power of the ivories kept drawing him home. "There's something so soothing and natural about the instrument, no gimmicks, just pure and honest emotions," he says. Gold blends many of his musical experiences and influences on his Anagram/PGI debut ALL AROUND ME, painting beautiful colors around gorgeous instrumental pop melodies that make an immediate connection to the hearts of his listeners.

Gold is excited about the opportunity to follow in the tradition of George Winston (whose classic recordings were hugely inspirational) and, in recent years, Jim Brickman, both of whom are masters at keeping things catchy and simple, yet soul stirring all the same. "Music is my life, and I find fulfillment in many different areas," Gold says. "But there's something special about sitting down and writing these kinds of songs. I pride myself on composing very melodic music people can relate to. Because of my extensive pop background, I've always appreciated the art of the simple pop song. I'm not about grand themes and drifting solos. I feel as though my piano is the voice of the lead singer and that the songs' success comes from a main melody line that quickly touches the audience."

Gold originally recorded most of the thirteen songs on ALL AROUND ME as solo instrumentals. Nicholas and Cheryl Gunn - popular new age artists and producers and owners of Anagram Records - loved the songs and, upon signing Gold to their label, suggested some slight enhancements, including percussion and orchestral parts. Gold also loved the idea of having Nicholas, an accomplished flute player, adding the extra emotional texture of his instrument to various tracks.

"Nick basically asked me if he could produce one track, and if I liked it, to let him work on the entire album," Gold recalls. "I really loved what he did on 'Searching,' and became excited at the idea of a fuller scale production which would add so much depth to what I already had. Nick shares my love for great melodies and above all else kept the focus on my compositions while also complementing them with the other sonic ideas. His flute adds an amazing level of warmth to the project. Its title refers to the fact that music has truly surrounded my life for many years. The music here conveys happy reflections about my life."

ALL AROUND ME plays like a compelling story told on a lush musical landscape, with Gold's trademark tender touch endeavoring into more intense dynamics on various tracks. Highlights are the elegant and wistful opening tune "Cascade"; the more percussive pop-rock flavored, low tone edged "The Magic Mirror"; the film score like sweep of the title track; the soulful melancholy of "Snow," enhanced by an emotional orchestral harmony and Gunn's dreamy flute; "A Song For Nancy," which incorporates some of the tribal percussion elements prevalent in Gunn's music; the smooth jazz flavored "Midnight Blue"; and "Searching," the piano/flute duet that launched the whole session.

A native of Palo Alto, California, Loren Gold began fingering out Beatles songs on the piano at age five and quickly started his classical training. The rest of his musical life plays like an eclectic mix drawn from both of these art forms; he played rock in high school, loved R&B (Stevie Wonder) and jazz (Keith Jarret), and began playing Mozart piano sonatas a la Fats Domino. "After all these years of playing and composing, I still love to create a simple melody with a theme and a twist that makes it unique," he says. "If you listen carefully, you'll hear in my songs some of the composers I love, but the music comes from my heart and fingers."

Gold seems to be one of those musicians whose life is all about the uniqueness of the journey - accompanying singers from film, television and Broadway, performing as a musician and actor on daytime television, playing behind famous comedians at The Comedy Store, doing pieces for films on HBO, Showtime and Cinemax, and offering private piano instruction and music theory at home in Los Angeles. After recording and composing with several rock groups in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Gold decided to return to the intimacy of the piano and ventured into the new age piano market. In 2000, he won the best instrumental composition at the national creative arts competition HARC Awards

"In all my endeavors, I always seek to share my passion of music with others," says Gold. "Having completed ALL AROUND ME, I've been amazed at the positive reactions of people and realize the power music can have. There's always a place for this kind of music because people like romance and it can be joyful to them in many different ways. The bottom line is bringing something positive and enjoyable to the listeners."

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  • Flawless...
    author: Jesse Daly

    Flawless...Simply Flawless Debut from a remarkable talent

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