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January 2003 New Age World

Written by Joe Hartlaub

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Artist: Michael Jones
Title: Pianoscapes: Deluxe Addtion
Label: Narada Records

This 2- disc set represents a bit of history of sorts. PIANOSCAPES by Michael Jones was the very first release of the fledgling Narada label in 1985. Narada, one of the pioneer New Age houses, has since gone on to whether good times and bad by branching into the smooth jazz, world music, and meditative genres. PIANOSCAPES attempted to capitalize on the popularity of Windham Hill's George Winston; while the styles of Winston and Jones are somewhat different, they certainly mine the same mountain, with both gentlemen dealing in composition for piano only. The complete 11 track, 87 minute release of PIANOSCAPES has heretofore been available on only a limited basis, on cassette and sold through selected gift shops, until this release, which includes the original versions of "Echoes," "On the Road," and "Night Wind."

PIANOSCAPES is not for everybody. This is a minimalist, piano-only set, and Jones is not blazing any new trails or even following those laid down by, say, his labelmate Ramsey Lewis or even Keith Jarrett. This music does have its place, however. It is mood music of the non-intrusive kind, the type of disc you might put on full-blast while reading the paper and sipping coffee on a Sunday morning, if you live in the suburbs and not near an urban college campus, or for an extended drive in the rain. It will not stir the blood or excite the pulse, but then again it is not intended to do so; you could read, fold laundry, or make love to it (though not at the same time) and it would not distract you from those tasks; yet you would find yourself wanting to play it again and again. It is background music, the type you could play during a small dinner party, where at one point someone would say, "What is this? It's very good," pointing to the stereo and not at their plate. You would not take umbrage.

While PIANOSCAPES is not challenging, it is pleasant. If your CD collection does not include a quiet, meditative, instrumental CD, you should have this one. It is a well-done work within its genre which has stood the test of time. Those who have the original release will want this one as well, simply in the interest of completeness.

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