A really fantastic CD, that should be on everyone\'s shopping list. Oswald is a gifted contemporary artist and composer.

“October Wind” is the first solo piano release by multifaceted pianist/composer/arranger Rebecca Oswald. A composer and performer who is comfortable in many genres, Oswald brings a rich and varied background to her music. This CD consists of thirteen compositions for solo piano and one art song for piano and tenor voice. All of the pieces have strong, flowing melodies, and Oswald mentions that they could be the contemporary equivalent to Mendelssohn’s “Songs Without Words,” which makes perfect sense. The songs were composed between 1981 and 2005, and most deal with themes of nature and relationships. Oswald’s work is very classically-based, but is easily accessible. The music has plenty of depth for the serious listener, but would also provide a lovely backdrop for a dinner party or reading by a cozy fire. “October Wind” opens with the title track, a bright and breezy piece that brings images of a carefree dance in the autumn leaves. “Truth” is a favorite. Slower and simpler but deeply emotional, it seems to be a soliloquy that comes from the soul. “New Leaf” is also a real beauty. Elegant in its simplicity and grace, it suggests the promise of a new beginning. This is one of those pieces that make my fingers itch to play it! “Perseids” is bright and sparkling like the meteor shower it depicts. “Think” is the earliest piece on the CD, and is deeply introspective. What a gorgeous piece! “Dancing With Unseen Friends” is another favorite. Both playful and mysterious, the changing rhythms keep it a little bit edgy, but always interesting and compelling. “Periwinkle Blue” is as peaceful and soothing as the color in its title. “A Starfish Serenade” is for right hand only. Composed while recovering from a shoulder injury, Oswald says that her hand looks like a starfish on the keyboard when she plays it. “Embrace” is a wonderful ballad full of love and tenderness. Passionate yet poignant, Oswald’s emotions flow freely from her fingers into the piano. The closing track, “Your Hands,” is described as “a love song to a practical woman.” The text comes from the epilogue of an epic Greek poem. Tenor Peter Hollens sings the words set to Oswald’s melody and accompaniment. It’s a fascinating song, but I much prefer the solo pieces. “October Wind” is an excellent CD whether you are looking for music that is vivid and thought-provoking or simply music to unwind with. Rebecca Oswald does both exceptionally well. Strongly recommended!

Rebecca Oswald has created a masterpiece. This CD of solo piano works was carefully composed and recorded. It has the perfect balance of technique and heart felt passion. Unlike other piano CD's, each composition changes enough to keep it interesting yet maintains her tactful approach. It is the CD you will not want to remove from your CD player and you will take on all your road trips. Bravo.

There is a real elegance in both composition and performance on the disc. The opener is the title track from this “October Wind” CD. Its bold and bright melody is a joyful celebration. “The Rhythm of Snow” transports us to a magical winter world where snowflakes fall, swirl and eddy with Oswald’s masterful piano stroke implying a timeless view of the passing of seasons. “New Leaf” follows with a lovely spring melody and builds from its soft beginning to a bold proclamation of growth and change. You can hear the musician’s passion pour forth in the timbre of the 1926 Steinway M grand piano used in the recording. “Think” is a glorious track that unfolds like a panorama of emotion as the piano sometimes trails into the upper register like an afterthought and then gloriously tumbles back embracing the certainty of its sound. My personal favorite is “Regatta” that was composed on a sailboat. Its striking original melody reflects for me a boat cutting its way through the waves and a bracing rush of ocean air. “Dancing with Unseen Friends” is a lighthearted loving fanciful embrace that places a glow in the heart that blooms to a smile in its almost chamber-like melody. My wife decorated our bedroom in periwinkle blue; and Rebecca’s piece titled after the color has an end-of-the-day relaxation to it, the perfect unwinding. The last of the 13 instrumental pieces is “Embrace” whose majestic melody was born to fill a cathedral. The last track “Your Hands” boasts the lovely tenor vocal of Peter Hollens. “October Wind” shows the incredible range and reach of Rebecca Oswald as composer and pianist. Its meditative moments, flights of fancy and inspiration make it a marvelous accomplishment. Enjoy!