Songs Without Words II Iowa

Songs Without Words II

Various Artists

Windham Hill Records, 1997

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 02/19/2002

The piano can be one of the most soothing and romanticinstruments in the musical world. There is something aboutlistening to those who have mastered the 88 keys, hearing them putmusical visions into a form we can hear which captivates the sensesand tugs at the heartstrings.

Maybe this is why I knew I was going to like Songs Without Words II, the latest compilation ofinstrumental works from new age pianists, before I even heard thefirst note. Even if I had only heard of a handful of the artists,like Jim Brickman, David Benoit and Janis Ian, I had an inklingthat this was going to be a special disc.

Thankfully, executive producer Benoit does not disappointthroughout this 45-minute, 11 song collection. Don't let the term"new age" or the fact this is released on Windham Hill fool you;these songs refuse categorization, wanting only to be accepted ontheir own merits - of which, they have plenty.

Interestingly enough, the duet between Brickman and Benoit("Glory"), while pretty, is not the highlight of this collection.That honor I'll give to Barbara Higbie with her selection "CharlieRiley". Originally released on her CD Variations On A Happy Ending, this tune captures the feel ofragtime blues locked in the body of Vince Guaraldi. It's a lot offun to listen to, and makes me wonder why Higbie isn't morewell-known. It also makes me want to hear more of what she has tooffer.