Panacea

Music is the Cure-All for what ails us. This CD entitled PANACEA is my effort to add to the musical pharmacy. Be advised it can be addicting. I was lucky. The two fine pianists who taught me lived within 200 yards of our Trafford Pa. Home and I grew up during the time of Van Cliburn, Liberace and Ted Mack's amateur hour. Inspired by the latter three I voiced an interest in lessons and began at 7 ½, taking classical for ten years. Part of my living has been at the keys for almost 30 years playing dinner music at hotels and restaurants. About the CD: Some of Panacea has an improvisational feel around a chord structure and although the general sound is New Age it is much more complex in harmonies and melody than typical. A reviewer at Taxi Music writes that some of my pieces are reminiscent of Debussy or Ravel with a new age tinge. Others are more song-like in the style of Jim Brickman or David Lanz. Others bring to mind Movie Music. Not a bad combination if I say so myself. Those who have heard this CD say it is very relaxing; that they will plug it into their computer at work or at home or car and put it on repeat. They comment on the passion and expressiveness. Each piece tells a story. If I had Three Wishes-- is a actually a Christmas song. Lyrics exist but this is the instrumental. Family, Love and Peace. Each has a theme. The Girl with the Auburn Hair--(1998) being recently separated I found myself in line at a movie behind a young lady with cut-off shorts, hiking boots, scrunched socks, long legs and auburn hair down to the middle of her back which brushed my face as I entered. Standing in line getting popcorn the sound of her voice further entranced me. I gave her my card and told her I was going to write a song about her and if she ever wanted to hear it she could call. When I returned home the melody came out effortlessly. She never called. I wonder who she was. Never Again--expresses the emotional growth of a woman I know who, after divorce, realizes she will never again rely on a man to quot;make her happyquot;. Mother's Day--ever watch the joy of a mom at college graduation? I was with you at Midnight--the mind's travel from a darkened bedroom to the arms of a woman far away who you hope misses you, too. The Watch--a young man who never knew his father receives his broken pocket watch and becomes a watchmaker just to get it running again. When opened he finds the watch is magical, enabling him to see the lives of all of the owners in a misty quot;moviequot;. October--the first song I ever wrote-1968. For my future wife, whom I met in October. One Last Time--former lovers, now aged, meet again. The passion is still there-but do they or don't they? TuTu Dancer--for my daughter Abby, dancing about the house as I practiced. Sun-Dried Percale--do you remember the sheets drying on the line and rushing to get them down before a summer thunderstorm? Too Soon, Angels--a catharsis from the sadness I felt when I heard the news of the young Amish girls' murders in rural Pennsylvania. Rug Rat--for the other of my twin daughters, Molly. She would crawl around in her diapers so fast. Touching everything, exploring. Then all of a sudden would just collapse and take a short nap, only to be at it again in a few minutes. A beautiful lullaby. If you do purchase this CD my email address is on the back cover. Please let me know how you like it. Nick.