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review by Bill Binkelman It takes a lot for me to say of a solo piano CD "Now, that's different." Michael Strening Jr.'s stars coaxed that phrase out of me more than once. You probably won't believe me during the opening rolling chords and gentle runs of the first track, "Wedding Song." Stick around past the first minute and a half, though, and you'll hear Strening build the tempo and introduce a totally different refrain and it's like a whole new song just appears. It's an exciting moment, coming seemingly out of nowhere. The music takes on a joyful sense of exhilaration that makes you want to jump up with glee or at least break out in a big grin! Strening does this on almost every track, i.e. refuses to let the music sit in a comfortable "new age" groove. Yet, he never strays into abstract or "weird" waters either. All seven tracks on stars are accessible and easy to like from the first playing. However, by making the music a lot more complex, the richness and nuances of his compositions are revealed slowly, making the rewards of repeated plays all the greater. The title track begins as a somber, reflective piece, featuring delicate upper register played against soft lower notes. But, those upper register notes start to burst like tiny fireworks, louder and more vibrant and firing much faster as the track progresses, and that lower register also gets a lot more "oomph" too. By still playing in the minor keys, Strening keeps the drama and somberness intact (somehow). Frankly, I still don't get how he can pound on the ivories the way he does and infuse the music with the reflective emotional impact he does. Strening isn't a minimalist like George Winston. Yes, on tracks like "pulse" (during the quieter moments) you may say to yourself "That does sound like December a bit." But it's a fleeting moment in the context of the whole album. Pianist William Watson has done some of the same things that Strening is doing here, as has the Australian artist Timothy Davey on his release, Uncovered Keys. Both Davey and Strening throw out the traditional "new age piano music book" (okay, it's just a figure of speech) and just go for it. Of course, not every song on stars is a criss-cross pattern of tempo and mood. "Lullaby" is pretty much what you would think, based on the title (and a mght pretty lullaby it is, too). "A New Beginning" is also a more-or-less quieter tune, with only short bursts here and there (a quick run up or down a register, a little more volume on some notes or chords here and there), but even here he surprises by bringing the song to an achingly beautiful ending that is a perfect example of "subdued" yet melodic playing. stars is one helluva solo piano recording. Engineering is solid, Strening's technique is without flaws that I can hear, and his originality is damn refreshing, especially if you, like me, are more used to conventional approaches to new age piano music. Granted, this is not really a "sit in front of the fireplace" CD, but it doesn't aspire to be that. This is music that dares to be different (but to overly so) and, as such, it deserves an attentive ear be turned in its direction. So, turn your ears thataway, bucko! |
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