Smoke on the Horizon

Smoke on the Horizon Artist: Jonathan Dimsdale
Label: unsigned
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 807207032625
EAN: 0807207032625
ASIN: B0007W4N86


Release Date: 2005-03-01

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Listmania:

  1. A Sampling of Whisperings Solo Piano Radio

Tracks:

  1. Daybreak
  2. The Sandbox King
  3. Nightingale's Song
  4. Along the Highwire
  5. House of Cards
  6. The City in the Sea
  7. When the Clock Strikes
  8. Reverie
  9. Adrift
  10. Road to the West
  11. Paper Moon
  12. Chasing Ghosts
  13. Kaleidoscope

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars from Solo Piano Publications.......2005-03-31

Jonathan Dimsdale's debut recording is nothing short of spectacular. "Smoke On the Horizon" is a musical journey through the ups and downs in the life of an extraordinarily talented young man. At the tender age of twenty-one, Dimsdale has created a collection of original piano solos that are full of youthful energy as well as the naked and deeply-felt emotions that bubble up (and sometimes roar) as one's life takes shape. The music varies from quiet peace to strong and turbulent, and a multitude of influences can be heard: classical, jazz, blues, the more reflective new age styles, and even some progressive rock. Some of the pieces remind me a bit of the beautiful complexity of Clara Ponty's work; some remind me of Dax Johnson's passionate piano solos. Dimsdale's musical voice is clear and strong, and I'm very excited about being among the first to hear his music. Far from being ear candy, this was one of those albums that I wasn't sure I liked the first couple of plays, but then the music started to open up and reveal itself, and I found myself often saying, "Wow!" By the fourth or fifth play, it was really getting under my skin, and it will definitely be one of my favorites for the year.

The opening track, "Daybreak," is one of Dimsdale's early compositions. Energetic and full of life, I was surprised when a familiar phrase jumped out at the midpoint of the piece. After a couple of takes, I identified it as a bluesy riff on David Lanz's "She Stands On the Mountain, Still." It's only a few measures, but I had to ask Dimsdale about it, and it is, indeed, a nod to Lanz, the biggest inspiration to his composing. "Nightingale's Song" is one of the quieter and more reflective tracks - very beautiful! "House of Cards" is my favorite. It begins with a quiet, plaintive melody that is very dark and sad. The emotions build to an outpouring of passion. A sweet little passage follows that seems to be musical relief, and then the opening melody returns and develops into another burst of passion that calms and becomes peaceful. An amazing piece! "The City In the Sea" is mysterious and magical. "Adrift" is another favorite. It begins very quietly and pensively, and as the title implies, has a floating, flowing quality. Toward the end, the tempo picks up and the piece resolves. "Paper Moon" has a very delicate introductory passage that becomes a series of themes that melt into each other, some carefree, some more serious. I also really like "Chasing Ghosts" with its unexpected melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic changes. Parts of it are "haunting" and mysterious, while others are upbeat and lively. The closing track, "Kaleidoscope," is a little more abstract, with the melody and accompaniment going in almost random directions, as the shapes in a kaleidoscope do, forming beautiful colors and patterns as they move and change shapes.

"Smoke On the Horizon" is an auspicious beginning! Samples of the music are available on Dimsdale's site, www.jonathandimsdale.com. Very highly recommended!

Music CD:

  1. Desert Solitudes
  2. On My Way Home ~ Enya
  3. Mantra Yoga ~ Temple Bhajan Band
  4. Elements: Voyage of Earth - Reiki ~ Various Artists
  5. Kavanagh QC: Original Music from the ITV Series ~ Anne Dudley
  6. Swinging on a Star ~ Joe Augustine
  7. Live at the Lyceum ~ Cabaret Voltaire
  8. In Another Country ~ Tim Story
  9. Sweet Chaos ~ Osamu Kitajima
  10. Echoes of the Land

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

15 Exitos ~ El Imitado Nunca Igualado

Pachangueando ~ Los Peniques, Los Caribes

Volumen 1 ~ Los Embajadores del Norte

Smoke on the Horizon ~ Jonathan Dimsdale

The Impressionists: A Windham Hill Sampler ~ Various Artists

Sounds of Z.E.N. ~ Z.E.N.

Llego la Hora ~ Mayito Rivera

20 Exitos Ramon Ayala y Los Bravos del Norte ~ Ramon Ayala y Los Bravos del Norte

De New York a Colombia ~ Super Combo Los Profesionales

La Mixx del Norte, Vol. 2 ~ El Atomiko