Customer Reviews

Roots - The Solo Piano Album

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Laurie Z has released 3 albums, the first 2 being with other instruments complementing her keyboard talents, but this album, Roots, is her solo piano album and it is beautiful. I love her other albums as well, but this album is one you can put on and totally lose yourself in...I have seen her perform live in Southern California as well as in San Francisco, and once you see the passion in Laurie's playing , you will fall in love with her and her music. My absolute favorite is "For The Love Of A Child" which by the way, she created from scratch with the suggestions of notes and themes from the audience at one of her concerts! This lady is talented, not to mention down to earth and always willing to listen and talk to her fans. You will not be disappointed with this album

For awhile it seemed that many of the solo piano albums being released were safe and predictable, and it was becoming increasingly more difficult to tell one artist from another. This past year has brought forth some excellent surprises, but some of these outstanding albums might be difficult to find. One that is especially deserving of the search is Laurie Z's newest release, "Roots". I love this album! This is Laurie's third recording, after "Window to the World" and "Life Between the Lines" which were made with her band. "Roots" is an autobiography set to music, and clearly demonstrates Laurie's diverse and deeply personal composing styles as well as her mastery of the piano. A classically-trained pianist since the age of four, her touch is warm and expressive.

The album opens with "Stranger in a Familiar Land", which is one of my favorites. It is full of passion and perhaps a sense of questioning or wonder. "Michael's Song" is more subdued, but has its own wonderful flow. "In the Monterey Mist" feels just like the title - cool and soft with no hard edges. "For the Love of a Child" conveys a real sense of joyfulness and fun in its uptempo melodic swirls. "The Mysterious Painter" is another piece I love. It is a little darker, but is also passionate and somewhat questioning. "From the Ashes" is a study in optimism, and is again much more uptempo. "Dream Come True" returns to a quiet mood, but a happy and peaceful one. The title tune has a classical touch and lots of colorful minor chords. The feelings expressed are almost unsettling at times because they are so clear and real. A great surprise is "Too Blue", which fits in perfectly, but is different from the other cuts with its bluesy/gospel style. It hints that Laurie Z can get "down and dirty" at the piano with the best of them! The last cut, "Good Night, My Friend" is like a warm and personal conversation with a close friend at the conclusion of an evening you wished didn't have to end. The other three pieces on the album continue to intrigue the ears and emotions with their blend of passion and peace, as well as their flowing melodies. Everything about this album rings true and real, and I hope it is the first of many solo piano recordings from this dynamic composer and artist.

I've always thought that music is a language in itself, and Laurie Z speaks as if it were her mother tongue. This CD will touch your soul. My favorite cut is The River, which makes me want to weep every time I hear it -- which is a lot, because I keep this CD on my computer disk drive. This CD will covers a whole gamut of emotions, from the delightfully upbeat For the Love of a Child, to the blues of Too Blue. I can't wait for Laurie's next solo piano CD!

I have to admit I have somewhat of a bias in reviewing "Roots", by Laurie Z. This represents the artist's first piano solo album, and being a pianist myself, I have a natural tendency to enjoy piano solo albums. While the piano is a beautiful instrument, it still takes a "qualified" person to strike the keys in such a way as to make beautiful music. Laurie Z. certainly demonstrates that she has all the necessary qualifications.

I wouldn't dream of trying to diminish any of her past works, but she has particularly brought forth both her writing and performance skills with this latest release to the point where it overshadows her previous efforts. The music contains a certain crispness, yet is so full of feeling and intensity and ever-changing intricacies of harmony and movement that each listening is as enjoyable as those which it follows.

I must make a quick "aside" before I delve into the 14 cuts that make up this album. I usually don't comment on album design, but the liner note insert (whatever you call that thing) contains pictures of an unbelievable tree, apparently at the corner of Chapala St. and Montecito St. (if I read the street signs correctly), I assume somewhere in California. The CD itself, the inside back, and back cover contain striking pictures of a magnificent instrument. This is a welcome and appropriate accompaniment to the music therein.

"Roots", an apparent reference to the beginnings of Laurie Z.'s musical career, flows through a plethora of styles and emotions. I've assembled a collection of thoughts and interpretations of these offerings.

"Stranger in a Familiar Land" is a bittersweet tune that gives a feeling of searching - the stranger trying to find the way. There is a strong sense of love in "Michael's Song", the second cut. This is followed by "In the Monterey Mist". I've never been good at geography, so I'll have to guess at whether the mist refers to rain or perhaps sea spray. In either case, there is loneliness in this song, yet an underlying sense of peace, standing in the mist, enjoying and embracing the wonders and beauty of nature.

From there, "For the Love of a Child" treats us to a very joyful song, with a very classical flavor. Get your hands on the Solo Concert video to see where this one came from. It may amaze you! "The Mysterious Painter" ventures back into a minor key, almost a prerequisite for a mystery. It is a beautifully flowing song, which gives the feeling of painting (no, not the picket fence!). The previous note about the video applies to this song, also.

"From the Ashes" is a happy tune, despite its title, and contains some beautiful harmonies. I interpret this song as an arising, a triumphant return from having crashed and burned. The next song, as improbable as it sounds, actually tells a story without lyrics. "Dream Come True" is a simple title, yet the piece behind it is anything but simple.

As is quite often the case, the title song (cut 8) is the masterpiece of the album. It simply says it all. There is a very majestic opening, and that leads into the rest of this flowing and very expressive piece. I found it interesting that it is in a minor key. I'm not sure if there is a significance to that. From there, we move into "The Still of the Night", which combines a contemplation with a reverie, something I'm sure many of us experience on a still night.

"Invisibility" moves along, perhaps as being unrecognized, but with an intrinsic happiness, having no regrets at life's events. "Too Blue" proves once again, as did "Miss You Blues" on her previous "Life Between The Lines" CD, that this lady can play the blues. There are some great chords on this cut. "The River" simply illustrates quiet majesty. I defy anyone to gloss over this tune. You have to sit and listen with awe.

You can see leaves and flowers swaying in the breeze with the flowing 6/8 time of "Kelly's Garden". "Good Night, My Friend" is a fitting end to an album that should fit into any music lover's collection. The title is perfect. This song puts another day to rest. You can hear the peace, the friendship, and the warmth that Laurie Z. puts into all of her music, no matter what the song's mood or tempo or key signature or intent.

If I haven't managed to convince you to try out "Roots", then I don't know what else to say. Try sampling some of the cuts on this site.

Laurie came to lecture at my MIS class and ever since, I have been hooked on her music. Roots is by far her highest quality recording. And for those who want seconds, try Life Between the Lines. Very cool...

I came to finding Laurie Z through Amazon. I was purchasing some music composed by another talented pianist, Lorie Line, when I saw Laurie Z listed as other recommended artist. I have never regreted adding Laurie to my order. Thank you Amazon for introducing me to this wonderful artist. I look forward to buying more of Laurie's albums in the near future. I can rave on and on about each of the pieces, but the sound samples will do more justice than my words. I will just state that Laurie is among my favorites now.

Something like a decade ago, I stumbled across Laurie Z's music. I don't remember how. I don't remember where. But it stuck with me from the start, and I eventually found my way to her site, where I could order the sheet music to Roots, her only truly solo album. I also corresponded with her back-and-forth for a little while by email on a dial-up connection (AOL for both of us, no less) -- me, a high school student at the time, and her, a commercial artist.

The sheet music arrived soon after, and I stopped what I was doing to sit down and play through much of it. I had heard "Sunrise," the demo song she recorded for use on some Kawai digital pianos, and I was disappointed to find that it wasn't yet commercially released at the time. The rest of the music was terrific, though -- so that was okay.

(You can get "Sunrise", both the MP3 and sheet music, at her website now.)

The music on this CD is, in a word, charming. It's unique compared to George Winston, Jim Brickman, and many other composers of the genre. It has always gone over well when I play it for others, I always enjoy playing it, and I've always thought that much of it contains a certain special something that is often lacking in this kind of music. The liner notes present in the sheet music book for this album speak to that -- it's all about inspiration for the tracks, where she was at the time, that sort of thing.

Laurie has been gone for awhile now -- she passed away in 2006. And I, the little high school kid she took the time to talk to via email, am now in medical school, with music as my passion on the side. I've always found myself going back to the Roots songbook from time to time to play something.

Fortunately, her music lives on at her website. This little corner of the music world is all the better for having had Laurie in it.