Album Notes

Dear Friend,

A few nights ago we had more than a foot of snow here in Louisville, Kentucky. (I moved here from San Diego, so I haven't been around too much snow since I lived in New Jersey in the 80's.

The snow covered everything, and there was a silence and stillness that touched me deeply. Usually at this time of night all is dark, but the snow brought a luminescence to everything within view.

I love how the presence of snow seems to quiet everything down. Very few cars — or people — on the streets. Everything is still, serene. This stillness outside evoked a similar stillness inside of me.

This new CD -- The Shadow Of Your Smile -- really seems to match the mood of this evening. All the songs are medium to slow tempos — some of the best ballads and love songs around -- plus our version of FRAGILE by Sting — and there is a gentleness and serenity that seeps through the notes — like the quiet that cloaks a snow-lit night like that night not so long ago.

I wish everybody could experience the serenity that I feel sometimes when playing the piano. It is really a remarkable and mysterious and miraculous thing — this thing we call music. In seconds you can be transported into a whole new world.

This CD is an offering of that serenity and quiet ecstasy to you, the listener, from the Source that dwells within each one of us.

If you like it, please support the world of independent musicians (and this independent musician in particular) by buying at least one copy and telling your friends about the music. If you buy at least three copies, I will send you a free bonus mp3 download of a live performance that you will love.

I hope the music brings you what you most need in this moment. Thank you so much for listening. To learn more about my life and work, and to receive periodic updates about performances, workshops, new projects, go to www.HarryPickens.com.

Peace,

Harry

P.S. In my over 30 years as a professional musician, I have been on a quest -- a quest to create truly beautiful music, to find my own voice, to make some kind of positive difference in this world.

This quest has taken me around the world (17 countries on four continents),
has enabled me to collaborate and perform with hundreds of world-class musicians (Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Milt Jackson, Freddie Hubbard, Terrence Blanchard, Kenny Garrett, Wallace Roney and so many more),
has encompassed many styles and genres of music ('classical', jazz, popular, folk, world music traditions), and has taught me so much about what it means to be alive at this incredible time in human history -- a time filled with so much suffering -- and so much opportunity; a time where together so many of us are working to build a better, more loving, more humane world; a time when the power of music to uplift, comfort, soothe, and inspire has never been more necessary.

I hope this music warms your heart, touches your soul, and brings you what you need.

Thanks.