Something Constructive

Artist: John Jarvis
Label: Mca
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 076732596326
EAN: 0076732596326
ASIN: B000008GZU

Release Date: 1990-10-25

Related Categories:

General

| Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation

| New Age | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative

| Pop | Styles | Music

Listmania:

Music that inspired me to play Pianos & Keyboards, Part 1

Tracks:

Wide Open Spaces
Waiting
Solving A Dream
Two Moods
Dancing By Candlelight
A View From Above
Southern Hospitality
Something Constructive
Long Distances

Similar Items:

Whatever Works
Balancing Act
Pure Contours
View From A Southern Porch

Customer Reviews:

Truly Something Constructive and Indeed a Lost Classic........2006-03-14

I first heard John Jarvis on a local station around 1989 or 1990 that played what they called a smooth jazz format. Also had and still have a new age program on Sunday nights. Probably at the time John had just released Whatever Works, another excellent recording that had several tracks that could have fit either the new age or smooth jazz genre. I had no idea at the time John was so versatile and played with Rod Stewart and many other rock and pop artists as well as all the country and blues artists. I read in a 1987 Time Magazine article MCA released John's first early recordings as new age because they were not sure exactly what style it was and where it best fit. And with good reason, there is more variety here than most instrumental recordings I have ever heard. There is a solo piano composition, "Waiting" that could be considered new age while "Two Moods" borders classical. The other two piano solos are entitled "Dancing by Candlelight" and the incredible title track (that at times is explosive and other moments tranquil all the while maintaining a speed and consistency that still amazes me after all of these years) that are somewhere in between. Using smooth synthesizer John does reach the new age area at the time with "Solving A Dream" and the last track "Long Distances". "A View From Above" is excellent melodic smooth jazz and "Southern Hospitalility" is country influenced in a progressive way, like classical country if such a thing exists. The opening track, "Wide Open Spaces", which I believe made some progress as a single from the album back in 1987 and which some have called it country and others jazz, is a nice beginning to the CD if perhaps slightly repetitive. Whatever the style or genre of music these tracks truly are, the title is very apt as all of the tracks are indeed something constructive as there is not a weak song on the entire CD. Overall this is an excellent work by a truly gifted wide range artist, who did the recording of this accomplished professional work in only two days. Sadly it's been out of print for years, due as I understand to the demise of the MCA Master Series label in the early 90's, but if you enjoy excellent piano and smooth synthesizer you may want to purchase a used CD through the amazon market. Sadly John will not profit from it, but you likely will. His first release, So Fa So Good and the previously mentioned Whatever Works are also excellent and I would recommend them as well.

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