SongPath This is a separate link for just this album
Violist Karen Olson is no stranger to imaginative and
creative music vision. Her two previous releases, Covergence and A Hero's
Journey (winner of Zone Music Reporter's Best Neo-Classical album award in
2018), each push the boundaries of contemporary classical recordings. However,
even with Olson's track record of recordings that push the envelope, SongPath is an artistic triumph of near epic
proportions. Her vision for the album is
revealed in the CD's liner notes, "[SongPath]…has
been the unfolding of my dream to create a musical experience for others beyond
what words can describe." The album is the musical "partner," if
you will, of Olson's book SoundPath –
Using the Power of Sound and Silence for
Health, Harmony and Happiness (available from Amazon). Again, quoting from the liner notes,
"The music in this CD was created with a prayer that your listening will
inspire the experiences described in the book so you can have a SoundPath, beyond words, that will
transport you to new places within and without."
Now, after reading the above, you might think the music on
the album will follow the "usual" new age soundscape path of relaxing
and meditative music, and I certainly thought that as well, that is until I
played the first track, "Ever Peace," and then the second, "Why
Not?" By the time I got to track 3, "Adventure," (my favorite on
the album – more later), I realized that I should have known better than to expect
anything "cookie-cutter" from an artist with the imagination and artistic
courage of Karen Olson. After playing SongPath
all the way through, I was sincerely and deeply impressed with the width,
breadth, and depth of not just the styles of music on the album (Olson either
wrote or co-wrote all the music) but the 100 percent consummate
professionalism of Olson and her guest artists. Of importance to note is that
while this is undeniably her album, she is quite unselfish in not always
taking center stage, but allowing others, such as pianist/synthesizer artist
Carlos Cuevas or Premik Russell Tubbs (soprano sax, flute, ewi) to step up to
the plate and share the spotlight!
As a reviewer, the "downside" of an album such as SongPath is that it strains one's ability
to adequately describe the music in detail. Instead, one is forced to use
broader brushstrokes to paint a verbal picture of the music itself. That said, none
of the nine tracks is experimental, avant garde, or inaccessible. Far from it. In
fact, this may be Olson's most accessible album (to a wider audience) than her
previous two releases, especially Convergence.
During the course of the album, you will hear influences ranging from
classical, pop, Americana, new age, and more. Occasionally a single track will
even shift gears in mid-stream (I apologize for the mixed metaphor, folks).
The opening "Ever Peace" offers up a blend of
classical motifs/influence with some additional but distinct Americana shadings
at times. The lovely lead off melody on strings is accompanied by piano
step-for-step, as well as sax. There is a detectable "sweetness" to
the tune, but it's never cloying or overwrought. The next song, "Why
Not?" hews much closer to a formal classical influence with only a touch
of pop here and there. Olson's playing on this (and every song on which she is
prominently featured) is staggeringly brilliant as she is in complete control
of every possible technique on the viola. The song is less "cheery"
than "Ever Peace," and instead is somewhat contemplative. Next up is
the first of three vocal songs, "Adventure," and not only is it my
favorite song on the album, but it is one of the most affirming, empowering
songs I have ever heard, featuring the fantastic singing of Olivia Meihofer, as
well as equally powerful music. The song speaks to overcoming that which seeks
to keep us down, with lyrics such as…
Come awake, Face the pain
hear it call you to remain,
Find the pull, cut it loose
Overcome all the abuse
and, break down, break down
The barricades
Abandon the hate like a
Renegade
Surrender
Look in the eyes of the offender
Watch it vanish in the flames
Vow to keep the reign (reins)
Of your Adventure
I actually get chills listening to this song, owing equally to
the dramatic tone of the music, the emotive vocals, and the emotional wallop of
the lyrics.
Rather than go into a lot of details about the remaining six
tracks, I will simply say that they contain the aforementioned variety of
influences, e.g. the movie soundtrack feel of "Moving Higher," the
quasi-ambient/classical ending song, "Serenity," and, for me, the
biggest surprise (and absolute sheer delight) of the vocal track, "New
Ways" which features Meihofer on some spoken word vocals alongside a
fusion of jazz, funk, and trip-hop – and OMG does this work! It speaks not to
just her versatility as a vocalist but also Olson's adventurous side including
it on the album.
I hope I have piqued your interest because SongPath is truly a ground-breaking
album and each playing will unfurl a new musical sail. Not having read Olson's
book, I can't address how well this "handshakes" with it, but even as
a wholly standalone recording, SongPath
soars to dazzling heights of imaginative composing and highly accomplished
performing by all involved. Kudos to Karen Olson for once again pushing that
envelope but never alienating the casual listener.
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