Originally Published March 3, 2003 -- Your Wellness
Guide
Music To Calm Your Soul and Lift Your Spirits
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Music
plays a critical role in our lives.
It makes us happy, brings out emotions, and changes our mood.
If I hear a song
from the 80s, immediately a flood of memories come to mind. I
remember dances, dating, and friends. It seems like I can even
remember smells that went with that music and time period.
Some music
has a rejuvenating effect. Sometimes it calms. |
In this column, I’m
pleased to recommend to you three amazing artists with music to calm your
soul and lift your spirits.
Everyday Romance
Mannheim Steamroller is not just about Christmas in its new release, “Romantic
Melodies,” from Grammy award winning composer/musician Chip
Davis.
#1
on the New Age charts, Chip says his two favorite tracks are “Moonlight at
Cove Castle” and “Teardrops, Raindrops.”
“’Moonlight’ was inspired by seeing the ocean with my little four-year-old
daughter,” says Chip. “The moon was out behind the clouds, then the
clouds broke, and the moon ran a silver pathway to my daughter’s feet
causing wonder in her eyes.” “Moonlight” tells that story.
Chip says that
“Teardrops” is how a thunderstorm can cause a nesting feeling and create a
mood. He used an actual Nebraska thunderstorm, recorded in surround
sound at his rural residence, for this piece.
I
highly recommend “Romantic Melodies” as must-have music, evoking the
reflective, inspiring, and loving moods that only Mannheim Steamroller can
produce.
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Reflection and
Meaning
“As
In A Mirror,” by Steve Rashid, is one of the best
improvisational piano pieces I’ve come across.
Although inspired
by Biblical scriptures, the original pieces are simply soothing and
inspirational.
“I would hope that
people could use the music to come to a quiet and contemplative
place,” said Steve, as he spoke to me from his Chicago-based music
studio. |
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A
jazz-trained musician, extemporaneous music comes naturally to Steve.
He says “The process of improvisation is like learning a language and
being able to speak it.”
Steve says the track “When They Saw The Star” was recorded in one sitting.
The other tracks, he says, were fine tuned on multiple recording sessions.
This
album’s “repeatability factor” is high. I recommend this exceptional
CD for background reading or working music, or even to just chill out and
relax.
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Kicking Up A Notch
While I’m all for thoughtful and calming music, there’s one new jazz
CD that really lifted my spirits and gave me energy.
You’ve got to get a
hold of the highly original, fun-loving February 2003 release from
saxophonist Mindi Abair, “It
Just Happens That Way.”
Mindi has played
alto/soprano saxophone with the Backstreet Boys, Mandy Moore,
Jonathan Butler, Adam Sandler, and Bobby Lyle, among others. |
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My
favorites on this album’s
contemporary jazz
tracks, laced with R&B/soul rhythms and pop melodies,
are the winning “Lucy’s” and “Save Tonight.”
Unlike some jazz music that seem like the same track over and over, each
piece on Mindi’s new release has something fresh and new.
Says
Mindi, “I
just love the sound of the saxophone…full, rich, with an edge. It’s not
about playing five million notes and scales. I’d rather play one note that
makes you cry.”
Take it from me,
Mindi’s an up-and-coming star like Kenny G, with a female twist.
Terra
Wellington
is a
national authority on creating a wellness lifestyle.
www.terrawellington.com
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Wellington
