Customer Reviews

Beyond the Sundial

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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When I purchased Beyond the Sundial I had never heard anything by Kevin Kern. This CD is one of my favorites. I lent the CD to a friend of mine and he kept telling me that he would return it after he listened to it "one more time." I told him to keep it, I went out and bought another copy. Since then, several friends have asked where I purchased it. The music is soothing, refreshing. Listening to it is reminds me of sitting on the porch swing at the end of the day while the breeze washes over you. It's a vacation for the mind and soul.

Like the magical CD 'In the enchanted Garden', this CD goes one step further in a lot of senses, as Kevin explores other 'moods' and 'atmospheres' on this one than the 'garden' theme of the previous effort. Is it any less? NO. However, it does display the extraordinary talent of this piano player, as he is FAR MORE that just some 'new age' pianist creating some songs about leaves....he is a talent to be reckoned with!!

Overall, Kevin is one of the best impressional-istic pianists out there today - grab some of his music when you see it!!

Unlike classical musicians and rock stars, you tend to find good new age pianists either by word of mouth or by accident. In this case, you get to benefit from my own serendipity. Kevin Kern is a likeable stylist, who, while not totally original manages to always put together a good performance. Beyond the Sundial is a typical example of Kern's sensitivity - he always manages to please, but never quite slides off into the overheated romanticism which sometimes tries to sneak by as New Age.

For some reason, Kern reminds me just a bit of Burt Bacharach - melodic and improvizational. In addition to Kern's own playing, Beyond the Sundial also features the work of Paul McCandless, on oboe and English horn. McCandless brings a polished jazzlike style all his own to the combination. Kristen's Serenade is a touching duet, where Kern and McCandless trade a theme back and forth to my great delight. Hide and Seek has a similar style with equal results.

This is one of those albums that always sound familiar. Whether this is intentional or not, I can't say. Something about some of the themes seems to recall other music, but I'm never able to pinpoint the source. In a way, it is comforting, and Kern's skill makes the issue meaningless, since, borrowed or not, what he does with the music quickly becomes his own.

I am a big Jim Brickman fan and have all of his CDs. I was looking for something similar to his style when I ran onto Kevin Kern. I'm an instant fan! I've purchased two of CDs and want the others now also. His style is so soothing and immediately puts me at peace. I like to play his music at work or while I'm driving to keep me relaxed. His music makes me feel like all is right in the world!

This is another great album from Kevin Kern, and even though it has some sad mood, it is almost as wonderful as his first one (In the Enchanted Garden). Makes you relax, offers moments of Peace and Harmony... One of my favorites!

I find "Beyond the Sundial" the ' most warmly tender ' among Kevin's nine albums :

Tracks 1 and 8, my favorites, are played with synthesized strings (violins, cellos) as a complement.

Tracks 3 and 10 have an accompaniment of an oboe instrument to the piano mainstream.

Tracks 5 and 9 have synth strings, harp, and wind instruments (oboe family, French horn) playing a prominent role.

Five pieces (2, 4, 6, 7, 11) are straight piano solos spread out from end to end.

The album mentioned instrumentalist Paul McCandless was the performer of the oboe, English horn, and French horn.

This second recording of Kevin Kern is more refined than the first - "In the Enchanted Garden". The entire album is composed of soft and warm, soothing songlike melodies, with a light touch of melancholy in a few. The tempo is consistently Andante. Only track four is a little brisk-paced. A remarkably gentle, relaxing, melodious album ! Listening to the music alone would conjure up a brighter cover art design with lighter colors. Apparently, the production team had more sober themes in mind, and serious listeners would be more reflective.

This is now one of my favorite CD's. It's so calming and beautiful. I play it so often to take away the stress of the day. I love it!

A Dear Friend Told Me About Kevin Kearns after Finding out My Passion for George Winston.Plus Liz Story's, "Solid Colours" CD.I became enraptured of the Threads that Lead From One CD to Another.Not Many Artists have that Gift of Not Losing Their Audience by Making Un~Necessary Changes.K.Kerns is One Pianist that Knows Restraint. Even tho'I had hoped to become a Pianist One Day, Alas My Talent Was Primarily For My Own Enjoyment and Friends.Lucky for Me, I can Live My Dream Via Artists that Are Magnificent.Geo.Winston, Liz Story, Kevin Kerns are just 3 that Make a Piano Sing as Beautifully as Enya Does Sing! When first told this was "New Age Jazz",I scoffed.Mr. Mel Torme,Miss Ella Fitzgerald,Miss Pearl Bailey, now They Were Jazz. Lest Not Leave Out THE SCAT MAN HIMSELF,Mr. Louis Armstrong!Yet, Piano is a fickle judgement of Personal Tastes.Diana Krall Moves Me as Well.Yet, a Soothing Piano not in a 'deminished fifth arrangement'has me at "Hello".This CD, Beyond the Sundail is Older, yet still listen on Amazon and You Can Hear that "Thread" I Mentioned. Mr. Benny Goodman looked for that Sound and finally captured it and we hear it still today.Enjoy Amazon and Their Passion Along with Music Partners that Deliver the Goods.

I didn't find Mr. Kern's "Beyond the Sundial" as melodic or pleasing to the ear as his other albums, "In The Enchanted Garden" and "Summer Daydreams". Too bad - "Pan's Return" and "Through The Arbor" are surely among the best of his works!

"K.I.S.S." as applied to this CD was never truer. Simple piano music with a couple accompanying instruments combine to create visions of tree-filtered sunlight, memories of lost love, nostalgia, forgiveness, and a multitude of other bitter-sweet emotions.

If you are in a mood for jolly-wally music, put this one away - it won't cut it; however, if you are ready for some "reflective" mood music, and have an hour you can call your own, then find yourself a comfortable chair/lounge/bed and let this CD swing your mood to something calming and stress-free...

Oh, and if you can't find this particular CD, not to worry - 'cause you can't go wrong with any of Kevin Kern's music.