Customer Reviews

Welcome Home: The Best Of Liz Story

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I have always been a big Liz Story fan, so I was thrilled when I found out she was releasing a compilation of some of her best works. The first and only compilation cd she has ever recorded, Story includes two new songs as well, one of which is a dedication to a dear friend. Just released, the compositions for "Welcome Home: The Best of Liz Story," were taken from the past recordings of "Solid Colors," "Part of Fortune," "Escape of the Circus Ponies," "Speechless,""Unaccountable Effect," "My Foolish Heart," and "17 Seconds to Anywhere."

As always, she dazzles with her ability to capture the moment, and with a playing style that is uniquely her own, Liz Story has become a steady anchor for Windham Hill Records. My expectations were fulfilled. Soothing, inspiring, and touching solo piano - this is a wonderful cd!!

I've been a fan of Liz Story's since the early 80's, and the fact that she was issuing a compilation that included tracks from albums that are no longer available (Part of Fortune, Speechless, and Escape of the Circus Ponies) was really exciting. This CD is good, but not great, for an entirely subjective reason: in my opinion, it's not strictly her very best work. I would question why, for example, when choosing the tracks from Circus Ponies, "The Sounding Joy" or "The Empty Forest" were passed over in favor of "Church of Trees". And why not more material from Speechless, which is stupendous from start to finish? And the title track from Solid Colors surely deserves to be included among her very best. On the other hand, as a showcase of 20 years' worth of work, the CD is very representative and gives a taste of Liz in all phases of her career. Maybe they should've called it "A Liz Story Retrospective."

It's hard to review an album that is as perfect as "Welcome Home." This is one of those CD's you tend to leave in the CD changer, and it's more atmosphere that concentrated listening, but that's not a bad thing. My favorite on the album is "Wedding Rain", which is so melodic, one can play it almost in entirety in one's head. A beautiful compilation and a must for anyone who loves contemporary piano compositions in this genre.

great compilation. very nice piano work. great to play on a sunday morning when you're trying to wake up to the day. I agree with other reviewers about "reconcilation" which is superb. Largely without backing this is solo piano at its best. beautiful melodies and construction, although I would also rate Jim Brickman as a master of piano genre, his work is a little more mainstream, and now and again he will introduce a female vocalist into his work to give some great "classics". But Liz Story is certainly one of my fave CDs. Not one to play over a candlelit dinner maybe, more one to play late night, early morning, in solitude..thinking..or while surfing the web..listening.

Liz Story is one of the leading new age pianists, and a "best of" collection has definitely been called for. Of course, there's always questions as to what is best and what is not.

Nevertheless, these are basically deeply textured and somewhat shadowed compositions. You will find a couple of welcome standards here--"My Foolish Heart" and "My Romance", both played with jazz overtones.

Other than that, you have a collection here, ranging from serene contemplation in "Hymn" to playful chaos in "Broken Arrow Drive".

Highly recommended if you enjoy piano at its best.

Liz Story is an artist in the truest sense. She allows her listeners to view the gallery of her life through her music. Her devoted followers will sense this selection to be not only a collection of some of her best music, but, also the events of her life story.

Liz Story's CDs have a style all of their own, and in this, the first compilation of her work, she presents her finest offerings from her many years at Windham Hill as part of the company's 25 year celebrations.

Her songs are finally crafted, deceptively complex, often multi-layered and have a real feel of sophistication about them. They are not always greatly melodic, but her skills and all-round talent are very evident upon listening.

My favourite piece is track 2, Reconciliation, which teases the listener as it first goes off in one direction, and then another, and never quite seems to complete its journey. It holds some curious addiction for me.

At almost 70 minutes in length, this 15 track CD represents great value and has the added bonus of a fine new track, "For Mark, Unwound", which the sleeve notes reveal to be a tribute to her greatest friend upon his passing away.

This is almost classical piano music, not pop-orientated as is the style of fellow musician Suzanne Ciani.

Overall, an album to recommend. Maybe not to everyone's taste, but for those with an appreciation for fine, mature and original piano compositions, this is an album to enjoy.