Here's a review of my latest songbook from MainlyPiano.com (Kathy Parsons):
"Brian Kelly’s Pools of Light Solo Piano Songbook is a completely revised and expanded edition of the e-book that was published in 2006. Twelve of the thirteen tracks from the album are included (“Sacred Waters” is a percussion interlude that isn’t adaptable to the piano), transcribed by Kelly himself and arranged for solo piano; I helped with the editing. The Pools of Light recording is ensemble, so some of the parts for other instruments have been incorporated into the piano part to make the sheet music sound as close to the original recording as possible. Kelly also wrote four pages of performance notes to help the pianist understand his intentions and to note differences from the recording. Coming from the composer himself, these notes are invaluable!
Brian Kelly is an incredible pianist who is very fluent in jazz stylings, so his music is far from simple and would be beyond beginning and intermediate pianists’ capabilities. Some of the pieces include cadenzas that are complicated and require very nimble fingers. The jazz rhythms are complex (and a lot of fun!) and some of the pieces have difficult key signatures (noted below). Kelly has suggested fingering for some of the thornier passages and expression has been carefully indicated according to the CD. The book is printed on bright white paper with clear, crisp type, and is spiral bound. The spacing within the scores is roomy and easy to read, and the cover is a beautiful print of the album cover artwork on glossy stock, making this a very attractive book! If you are a pianist at an early advanced to advanced playing level, this book is great fun and very satisfying to play! It is available from amazon.com and www.briankelly.com, and I highly recommend it!"
A review of my new songbook written by by Kathy Parsons has been posted on MainlyPiano.com: ". . . a sparkling collection of Brian Kelly’s own transcriptions of the eleven original piano solos from his forthcoming CD release, Tomorrow’s Daydream. . . The book itself is really beautiful, with full-color glossy covers (front and back), spiral binding, 80-pound paper, and clear and clean notation. The spacing is roomy and easy to read, and some of the pieces include Brian’s suggested fingerings. The music is fun to play, but it is definitely not for beginners. . . intermediate and advanced players will find plenty to love while getting lost in this music and making it theirs. Recommended!"
Kathy Parsons, influential educator and supporter of contemporary and new age piano music, has posted a review of my new solo piano songbook, Tomorrow's Daydream." Here is the entire review:
Tomorrow's Daydream Solo Piano Songbook is a sparkling collection of Brian Kelly's own transcriptions of the eleven original piano solos from his forthcoming CD release, Tomorrow's Daydream. This folio is a little bit unusual in that the sheet music book is being released before the actual CD has been recorded. Brian's transcriptions and the subsequent editing (by yours truly) were done from a demo recording Brian made with his electronic piano. Since much of Brian's music is jazz-oriented, the final version of the recording will undoubtedly be different from the songbook, but the book represents how Brian felt the songs were best notated and played at the time, and the songs' essence will remain the same. It is important to note that Brian is offering free access to the Members Area on his site to those who buy the book from his site (the book is also available from Amazon, but since Brian has no way of knowing who buys the book from Amazon, he cannot make this offer available to those who purchase it there.) While in the Members Area, people can listen to the whole album as well as other music Brian is working on. This little perk can be a huge help in hearing the tempi of the music and the general style of the pieces.
The book itself is really beautiful, with full-color glossy covers (front and back), spiral binding, 80-pound paper, and clear and clean notation. The spacing is roomy and easy to read, and some of the pieces include Brian's suggested fingerings. The music is fun to play, but it is definitely not for beginners. For example, if you find David Nevue's sheet music challenging, you might want to wait on this one until you get a bit more advanced. Timing is moderately complicated, some of the harmonies are complex, and several pieces are in difficult key signatures. The title song and parts of “Life Stream” are in the key of F# (six sharps), but “All of Thee Above” is in A minor and “Journey Home” is in C (no sharps or flats). A few spots have reaches of more than an octave, but not many. The music is challenging, but late intermediate and advanced players will find plenty to love while getting lost in this music and making it theirs. Recommended!
"I have found a jewel with Brian Kelly's Afterplay. This is a brilliant piece of musical arrangements with Brian on the keys and great compliment of artists sharing sheer genius! Afterplay is a wonderful blend of contemporary jazz with a taste of New Age. The music does it for me: smooth, melodic, entrancing and relaxing. Particularly titles: River Rush, Smiling South, Heaven On Earth and, of course, the title track. You can listen to Afterplay time after time. Brian takes you anywhere your music sensitivities want to go!" - Dionne Maldonado,
WFSS 91.9 FM, Fayetteville, NC
"Afterplay is an exciting contemporary jazz album which engages the listener from the very first note. I was blown away by the immediacy, the insistence of the opening cut ìRiver Rush;î a driving, smooth and satisfying offering which I only wished lasted three times longer! … As the album played to the end, textures varied and moods shifted, but the quality never faltered from the high bar set in its first cut. Congratulations to Brian Kelly!""
"Brian Kelly follows his brilliant debut release POOLS OF LIGHT with yet another outstanding, compelling collection of originals… The musical integrity and lyrical sensitivity that Mr. Kelly brings to the table for his projects is clearly evident on this release. At a time when commercial Smooth Jazz too often heads in the direction of clichÈ, Brian Kellyís AFTERPLAY is a refreshing example of how we can keep this music genre exciting and vibrant!"
Brian Kelly's new CD, Afterplay, is appearing on some "Best of 2008" lists including: "Best of 2008 pick by Audiosyncracy" and "Kathy Parsons' 20 Favorite CDs for 2008".
"There is a sense of raw and unadulterated joy in the playing that escapes many artists.You'll definitely want to keep your ears on this gent. He'll be at the top of the charts before you know it … Grand energy and style that gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me – very impressive! "-Improvijazzation
"the swing and complexity of melodic jazz and the studio precision of Steely Dan… make a confident statement. "- East Bay Express
Enjoying the CD already? Post your own review atCdBaby, Amazon, or iTunes.
CD Review: Afterplay / Brian Kelly
Reviewed by Kathy Parsons
Publication: MainlyPiano.com
Date: Nov. 2, 2008
“Afterplay” is pianist/composer Brian Kelly’s follow-up to his exceptional 2004 debut, “Pools of Light.” Bright and upbeat, “Afterplay” provides a bit of sonic optimism in these days of uncertainty and change. Don’t get me wrong – this is far from ear candy or sugary fluff. More jazz than new age, Kelly has created a collection of eleven rhythmically and melodically complex pieces that are easily accessible for casual listening yet provide a substantial and sensual auditory experience for many repeated plays. Brian Kelly appears on piano, keyboards, percussion, penny whistle, and voice, and is joined by Eric Crystal on sax, David Rokeach on drums, Ross Wilson on brass, Carol Alban and Viviana Guzman on flute, James Robinson on guitar, and Tim Bolling on additional percussion. “Afterplay” begins with “River Rush,” a piece that is both energetic and leisurely. Piano and percussion give the silky sax a slight edge, providing an enticing opening to the musical pleasures that follow. “Smiling South” is one of my favorites. Beginning with an infectious rhythm and a playful piano intro, this piece dances and swirls with a joyful energy. Ross Wilson adds additional color and pizzaz with trumpet and trombone – love it! “New Vision” slows down the pace a bit, but maintains an upbeat, easy-going mood. “Snowflakes” Rising” is a gentle, sparkling musical confection – another favorite. I also really like “Flavor Seven,” again playful and full of fun with just a touch of mystery. The title track brings back the sax along with piano and some catchy rhythms – smooth jazz with a gentle bite. “Heaven On Earth” is a gorgeous trio for piano and two flutes. As the title implies, it conveys a blissful, floating feeling that is pure musical peace. “Stone Shine” features Kelly on a variety of keyboards along with guitar and percussion. Rhythmic and a little on the dark side, its playful energy is infectious. “Sunchaser” closes the CD as it began, easy and joyful with a toe-tapping rhythm and a warm sense of contentment. Brian Kelly has outdone himself with his second release. If you haven’t yet heard “Pools of Light,” be sure to pick up a copy of that one, too – the two CDs complement each other exceptionally well.
"…POOLS OF LIGHT is a lush, sparkling journey into a beautiful world of elegant melodies and brilliant artistry. The music rises and falls in powerful, yet gentle, waves of emotion… a totally captivating collection of original compositions that range from delicate, heartfelt solo piano ("Home At Last" and "Speak Your Heart") to ensemble performances that are full of dynamic tonal color and intricacies. My favorites include the breezy "Open Sky," the engaging, jazzy "Cool Blue," and the equally jazzy and tasty "When the Stars Align." … he translates complex emotions into engaging musical experiences that both captivate and inspire. I highly recommend Brian Kelly's POOLS OF LIGHT as a collection of music that I am confident will find a permanent place in the "most-played" section of your music library!" Read the entire review.
Brian Kelly / Pools of Light CD named on "Best of 2004" List
Kathy Parsons, a CD reviewer for Solo Piano Publications, included Brian's Pools of Light album on her "Top 10 CDs of 2004" list. Here's the complete list:
Pools Of Light is the featured CD for September on solopianopublications.com
Read Kathy Parson's CD Review of Pools Of Light:
"Pools of Light" by pianist/composer Brian Kelly is sure to be on my Top 10 favorite CDs list for 2004. An amazing debut, the album is comprised of music composed and played in a variety of styles that include jazz, classical, and world. Two of the pieces are solo piano, and the other eleven tracks include keyboards, flute, and/or percussion. Kelly’s playing style has an easy elegance that comes from a phenomenal technique and chops to burn. His music is rhythmic and lyrical, and the moods range from pensive to joyous to ethereal. Despite the changing moods, the CD as a whole has a wonderful flow and cohesiveness, creating a uplifting and relaxing musical experience. "Open Sky" opens the album with a buoyant, carefree piece that is full of rhythm and excitement. The title track is much more meditative and soothing, and was inspired by a trip to Maui. "Cool Blue" is a great jazz piece for flute, piano, percussion, and bass – this one sounds like fun to play! "Sacred Waters" is a surprising little percussion interlude inspired by a waterfall in a jungle on Maui. My favorite track is "Troubadour," an ensemble piece where Kelly played all of the instruments himself (piano, sampled guitar, bass, and drums). A little mysterious, it was influenced by Kelly’s years of singing a capella Renaissance music. Parts of the piece swirl and dance, and others are a bit quieter. I really like the energy in this one! "Angels Breathing" is very new agey with floating sounds, gentle bells, and a beautiful piano part. "With Eyes Closed" is another favorite. Rhythmic and kind of dark, it, too, has a compelling energy and spirit that are addictive. "Home At Last" is a gorgeous piano solo with a beautiful flow. "Calling For Rain" is more of a smooth jazz piece, a little dark, a bit mysterious, and there’s that catchy, compelling rhythm again! Good stuff! The second piano solo, "Speak Your Heart," is much showier and full of passion – it really shows what Kelly can do at the piano. "When Stars Align" closes the album with an upbeat and breezy little jazz piece. "Pools of Light" is an outstanding debut, and Brian Kelly is a very versatile musician who is comfortable playing many styles. Samples and purchases are available at briankelly.com, and the CD is also available at cdbaby.com and amazon.com. Very highly recommended!
"Brian Kelly’s Pools of Light Solo Piano Songbook is a completely revised and expanded edition of the e-book that was published in 2006. Twelve of the thirteen tracks from the album are included (“Sacred Waters” is a percussion interlude that isn’t adaptable to the piano), transcribed by Kelly himself and arranged for solo piano; I helped with the editing. The Pools of Light recording is ensemble, so some of the parts for other instruments have been incorporated into the piano part to make the sheet music sound as close to the original recording as possible. Kelly also wrote four pages of performance notes to help the pianist understand his intentions and to note differences from the recording. Coming from the composer himself, these notes are invaluable!
