Customer Reviews

Piano Bouquet...Songs for My Father

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This is something that Zola Van fans have been waiting for.
A new Zola Van CD is always like a breath of fresh spring air and this CD is no exception.
You can almost see Zola's fingers flying over the keyboard as you listen to this fine collection of memories.
These songs are especially meaningful to many of us.
Of course, all of Zola's fans will be waiting for the followup CD.
Kudos to Zola for another wonderful performance.

"There is incredible strength and resilience in the generation that preceded us. This strength is reflected in the music of this generation that has the power to take us away to far off places and times; it's more than music. These songs are reminders of a passionate era gone by but not to be forgotten." ~ Zola Van

Zola Van selected beautiful memories from the American songbook for this collection. Piano Bouquet is a breathlessly beautiful collection of music celebrating music by Irving Gordon, George Gershwin, Frank Loesser, Harvey Schmidt and Sammy Fain.

"Hey There" has a beautiful sense of elegance and yet still embodies an energetic fusion of moods. "Tammy" has delicate flourishes and shimmering emotions. "Try to Remember" is infused with nostalgia. "Song For My Father" is an original composition by Zola Van and is a truly heartfelt piece born of her respect and admiration for her father.

Zola Van captures a delicate beauty in her new album. Each selection mingles perfectly and promotes a sense of peace and wonder. Like a well-chosen flower arrangement, this would make a perfect gift for anyone who loves piano and is an essential Zola Van CD.

I can also highly recommend:

Paint the Forest Winter
River to River Trail
The HeartAid Project
Carol: A Christmas Journey

~The Rebecca Review

Beautiful piano music and great songs. Would love to see availability of more of Zola Van's music.

"Piano Bouquet ... Songs For My Father" is the first issue in a series by pianist/composer Zola Van. Widely-known for her two CDs of original music inspired by hiking trips and a very unusual Christmas album, Van has assembled a collection of pieces from the "American Songbook," given them fresh new arrangements, and recorded them as a tribute to her late father and "to the men, the era, and the feelings that went with these times" (quote from an email from Ms Van). Some of the thirteen tracks are very familiar standards, and some are not so familiar. Van also included one original piece, appropriately titled "Song For My Father," my favorite song in the collection. Overflowing with emotion and sweet nostalgia for the less-complicated times gone by, Zola Van has certainly poured her heart into this album. I have to wonder, though, why she recorded the CD on a digital piano that just doesn't have the rich resonance of the acoustic pianos she recorded her previous three albums on. The music is exceptional, however, so if that esthetic isn't a problem, you'll love this album from start to finish.

The CD opens with a very soulful rendition of "Unforgettable." This deeply emotional arrangement really communicates love and memories, and has allowed me to hear things in the song that I've missed in other recordings. "Someone To Watch Over Me" is wistful and almost prayer-like. "Heart and Soul" is playful and upbeat. "Stella By Starlight" is dreamy, elegant, and very poignant - another favorite. "Song For My Father" is a real beauty. Almost conversational in tone, it is truly a love song for a beloved father. "Tammy" was a surprise - I haven't that song in years! A childhood favorite of mine, this song really took me back! "Beyond the Sea" was also a pleasant surprise. "Try to Remember" and "I'll Be Seeing You" are both classics for nostalgia collections, and these arrangements are exceptional in their sincerity and depth. "Ashokan Farewell" ends the collection with a sweet adieu.

"Piano Bouquet" is a wonderfully touching musical stroll down Memory Lane.