Customer Reviews

San Juan Suite II: Piano Passages (Vol. 2)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I picked up San Juan Suite Vol 1 at the end of a trip to Friday Harbor, WA, and I didn't listen to it until I got home (which is not in the Pacific NW, by the way). My wife and I both thoroughly enjoyed it. So, the next time I made my way back to the PacNW I checked to see if M. Gettel had released any other CDs. Among them was San Juan Suite Vol 2.

This CD is every bit as good as Vol 1. The original piano music, again mixed with occasional nature sounds (not overpowered by them the way some new age nature CDs are engineered), is wonderful.

The soothing strains of piano are excellent company as I work, read, do art work, or anything when I enjoy background music that complements rather than distracts from what I'm doing.

Great CD, highly recommended! 5 stars!

Alan Holyoak

This is a new twist on the original San Juan Suite, complimentary rather than more of the same. Nine wholly new melodies, a reflection of the islands at dawn, day and dusk. Here, Michael is joined by his long-standing band member, Sandin Wilson on fretless bass. The two interact and inter-twine brilliantly, Sandin often carrying the melody as Michael anchors the tune. Clearly, Sandin had much input into the authoring of these melodies, yet receives little by way of liner note credit. Strangely, as with the original San Juan outing, San Juan II is not released on the Narada label. For all its 20-bit mastering origins, however, there's a fair bit of background noise evident amongst the quieter pieces on this album, intruding upon the natural decay and 'space' around the instruments. A nice touch are the ambient sounds captured from the islands, although they can sometimes tend to disrupt an otherwise gentle flow. But a great, relaxed late-night listen all the same.

Refreshingly different than some of his earlier synthesized works, this CD uses sounds of the Northwest waterways with bass and piano that celebrates the San Juan Islands. Having lived in and near these islands for 25 years, no music is a close to capturing the feeling and mood during the stages of the day- twilight, a ferry ride, whales, a contemplative moment-- it's all here and if you can't tell, is my favorite Gettel CD. It's not the standard Gettel, but a work of art unmatched by his other works, and unique. Best shared on a summer evening with a glass of wine.

Michael Gettel has proven once again that he is quite simply the best at stirring emotions and painting pictures with music. I have sat for hours and listened to his music, and when listening to this particular recording, I can always feel myself traveling to the beach or some remote island in paradise, the mist of the sea spraying over me. The music is so powerful that I can almost smell the sea salt in the air. His music flows with such cause it inspires me with each turn of the melody.

San Juan Suite II is Michael Gettel's best album. It captures his style beautifully because it is piano and bass...that's it and that is all it needs. Sandin Wilson provides bass lines that complement rather than detracts from Michael's keyboards. The opening moments of the album on The Calling set the stage for 50+ minutes of pure bliss. Michael begins with a simple piano theme set against the ocean waves and seagulls. Then Sandin joins in and the first notes of his bass will send chills down your spine. Whisper on the Tide is another song that blends the two instruments in a way that tingles the senses. Tale of the Whales is hauntingly beautiful with Michael and Sandin's melodies blended with whale song. Moonrise Over Orcas is mixed with a loon in this quiet and peaceful end to a wonderful album...Buy used if you have to but don't miss this album!

Michael and Sandin, please: Encore!

I have owned San Juan Suite Vol 1 for over 12 years now and pretty much wore out the tape before I bought the CD. It is an awesome CD.

Vol. 2 turned out to be a HUGE disappointment. The sound is totally different, and he uses a strange, low, synthesized sounding instrument in addition to the piano on almost every song. It is dull and actually annoying, and the songs sound very similar, not creative.

Avoid this one, stick with Vol. 1.

I recently bought this CD after having fallen in love with Vol. 1, and was so disappointed. I should have listened to it first, but it pales in comparison to its predecessor. Nothing new here.