Customer Reviews

Blue Ridge Reunion

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"Blue Ridge Reunion" is Bill Leslie's musical tribute to and celebration of his father. Bill's father, also named William Leslie, died when Bill was a teenager and he never had a chance to say goodbye. Thinking of his watercolor paintings, Bill visited some of his father's favorite landscapes in search of musical inspiration. Words and music started to flow as he felt his father's presence - a magical and powerful reunion of spirits. Bill Leslie has been called "one of the greats in modern Celtic music" by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, which is heady but well-deserved praise. Bill is also an award-winning journalist and co-anchor for WRAL news in Raleigh, NC, where he and John Tesh roomed together and worked at the same radio station right after college. "Blue Ridge Reunion" is a collection of eleven instrumental and three vocal selections, and the music ranges from simple folk songs to fully-orchestrated compositions with a cinematic sweep. Most of the pieces are titled for places Bill's father painted and/or shared with his son and obviously come from a very personal and emotional place. It's a fascinating experience to hear Bill's musical interpretations of what his father captured visually in his watercolors. A companion book of William Leslie's watercolors and Bill's memories of growing up with him in North Carolina will be available shortly, and this music makes me very anxious to see more of the artwork!

The CD opens with "The Bluffs," Bill's father's favorite inn just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It begins as a guitar solo, and becomes somewhat more orchestrated as it evolves. Celtic whistles, violin, and percussion add spirit and fullness, but this piece remains quite simple, direct, and very beautiful. "South Mountains" is a bit more sweeping as it describes the majestic vistas Bill's father painted in this area. Piano, strings, brass, and whistles create a lovely color palette. "Valle Crucis" is a somewhat more somber duet for piano and whistle. About halfway into the piece, strings enter and lighten the mood to a more dancelike spirit. "Water of Life" is a touching song in the folk tradition about deeply-affecting experiences shared by father and son. "Moses Owl" is a favorite. Named for a Cherokee friend who told Bill's father about The Trail of Tears, a tragic chapter in our nation's history, the piece is dark and passionate. The title track is about the spiritual bond Bill made with his father during this project. Warm and tranquil, love flows from each of the notes. "Climb That Mountain" is a joyful and enthusiastic ode to hiking. "Great Eyrie" is another favorite. Guitar and whistle describe vast open space and awe-inspiring mountains, while orchestration adds colors and scope. "Attacoa" is another "big" piece that paints vivid pictures with a variety of musical instruments. What an inspiring musical journey!

"Blue Ridge Reunion" is a wonderful listening experience that tells of places and events both large and small, but all very powerful and affecting in their own way. The music is sure to delight and uplift! Recommended!!!

Bill Leslie serves our Carolina community broadcasting news and features. Yet this is an example of talent shared with a wider audience. He expresses a Carolina heritage which is both deeply antique and soothingly modern. He can balance tranquility against the chaotic headline. There is nothing pretentious about the peace of mind delivered in each score. He goes straight for the point of inner reflection. We unhesitatingly gathered these recordings when discovered. You should, too.

Bill Leslie's music is right up there with the best, whatever that is, and are sounds I enjoy listening to every day....Except, I am old fashioned (cheap? out of touch?) and still buy my music the old folks way: cds. So, while I greatly enjoy the instrumentals, I am thrown off by the vocals that occur every so often throughout the cd. I also have his "I am a River" which is better than this cd, to me at least, musically.
Typically, I hear something amazing on the music channel on Direct tv and rush to look up the piece which is how I stumbled upon Bill. But please, Bill, do a cd of either all vocals or either all instrumentals for us few cd buyer still using cd players.

With his latest album release, Blue Ridge Reunion, Bill Leslie has yet again shared with us the gift of his amazing musical talent. From the light and cheery fun of "Mountain Train" to the quiet intensity of "Great Eyrie", Bill takes us along with him on a journey inspired by his late father's love of art and nature. Bill's compositions are at times majestically inspirational, other times sweetly personal as he paints melodic pictures of the places and events that make up his poignant memories. If you have not yet experienced the vocal and compositional talents of Bill Leslie, Blue Ridge Reunion is the perfect place to start. Just don't be surprised if you eventually end up owning all of his albums...