Album Notes

Curtis S.D. Macdonald (1962) Composer A Cal Arts graduate, who after many years of exploring many popular instrumental genres, has found a love of transparency, lyricism and hyperkinetic rhythm to forge compositions to reflect, romanticize and remember. Passive and hypnotic sustains, filtered expressive pointillism combined with rhythmic grooves create the foundation for the memorable melodies and lyrical improvisations performed with a single voice acoustic piano. Imagine watercolors that sing. This is what contemporary Chill/New-Age/Jazz is all about! REVIEW: From the bouncy opening title track to the wind-swept cruise down the "Highway", Macdonald layers acoustic piano, keyboards "synth sound design" and programmed percussion into a canvas of sunny bright pastel and contemporary colorings, to the breezy, easy going "Kiss Goodbye" and the haunting "Coast Of Dreams", Lucia Iman adds her angelic wordless vocals. "Malibu" also drifts along on a gentle breezes of piano melodies in thirds and quick-paced percussion. The pulsating oscillators racing between speakers create a fascinating back drop to a romantic "Promise" delivered by piano and lush strings. Guitars in duets, played by label-mate John Adorney spice up the Spanish flavored "Tierra Rejada", while Macdonald's piano is impassioned with "Desire", driven by syncopated rhythms of techno drum programming. For pure upbeat, delightful and enjoyable contemporary instrumentals in melodic and pleasant harmonies, this debut on a label known for easily accessible music is one of the most listenable of the year. - Ted Cox : New Age Voice