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!"
From composer/pianist Brian Kelly: "Pools of Light Solo Piano Songbook", the companion sheet music book to his acclaimed piano instrumental album, is now available in print edition.
The 88-page songbook is spiral-bound and printed on high quality paper with a glossy cover. This edition has been completely revised and expanded. It includes twelve solo piano transcriptions of music from the album, as well as performance notes and detailed fingering. Price: $25.
Songs: Open Sky * Pools of Light * Cool Blue * Unfolding * Expect a Miracle * Troubadour * Angels Breathing * With Eyes Closed * Home at Last * Calling for Rain * Speak Your Heart * When the Stars Align
Recording… This spring I hope finally to record the Tomorrow's Daydream album on a real grand piano – in all likelihood, a Fazioli F278.
Two more songbooks… A revised edition of my "Pools Of Light" songbook (currently available only as a pdf file) will be published as a printed, coil-bound songbook. Also in the works is a printed songbook of twelve new solo piano pieces.
My "Pools of Light" album has been named among "Kathy's Top 40 Favorite CDs for the Decade" (2000-2009). These are listed in alphabetical order by the artists' last names.
Philip Aaberg – Blue West
Philip Aaberg – Live in Montana
Joseph Akins – Spirit Touch
Gabrielle Angelique – Dance With the Stars
Jeff Bjorck – Pure Piano Panoramas
Spencer Brewer – Cinematic
Frederic Delarue – A Mind Like An Ocean
Frederic Delarue – Dolphins: A Message of Love
Ben Dowling & Mark Wagner – The Path of Peace
Michael Dulin – Follow the River
Michael Dulin – Timeless: Classics For a New Age
Ludovico Einaudi – Echoes
Ola Gjeilo – Stone Rose
Wayne Gratz – Two Views
Michael Allen Harrison – Composer/Pianist
Eric Harry – Away, Melancholy Away
Fiona Joy Hawkins – Blue Dream
Fiona Joy Hawkins – Ice: Piano Slightly Chilled
David Hicken – Goddess
Michael Hoppe’ – Requiem
Dax Johnson – The Beauty of Human Error
Peter Kater – Piano Brian Kelly – Pools of Light
Kevin Kern – The Winding Path
David Lanz – Finding Paradise
David Lanz – Painting the Sun
Greg Maroney – Harmony Grove
Greg Maroney – Wind Chimes
Stephen Moccio – Exposure
David Nevue – Overcome
David Nevue – Sweet Dreams and Starlight
Sandy Owen – One Late Hour With a Steinway
George Skaroulis – Second Nature
Robin Spielberg – Memories of Utopia
Robin Spielberg – A New Kind of Love
Jennifer Thomas – Key of Sea
Jave Vek – Live
Wendel Werner – One Sitting
Yanni – Voces (Spanish)
Ralph Zurmuhle – Our Mother
"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!"
"Angels Breathing", track #8 from my Pools of Light CD, has been awarded "Track of The Week in Electronica" on garageband.com the week of December 8, 2008.
"…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.
Episode 3 includes a Bonus Track from the Southeast Asian release of Brian Kelly's CD, Pools of Light (re-titled "Expect a Miracle" on the Orange Music label), and 2 tracks from Pools Of Light. To listen, visit: PianoPodcasts.net
Brian Kelly's Pools of Light CD is eligible for nomination in the following categories for the 2005 NAR (NewAgeReporter) Lifestyle Music Awards:
Album of The Year
Best New Artist
Best Instrumental Album – Piano
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Voting is done by the Broadcasters (Show Hosts) that have reported Top 20 Reports to NewAgeReporter during the October 2004 thru November 2005. Winners will be announced Feb. 19, 2006.
The entire set of sheet music from the Brian Kelly CD, Pools of Light, (12 solo piano pieces, 67 pages) is available online in pdf format for $24.95 (appropriate for intermediate – advanced players). Go to:
"Open Sky" (the first track from the Pools of Light CD by Brian Kelly) is featured on the New Age CD Sampler released by Oasis CD Manufacturing on track #12, Disc 1. The double-disc promotional CD will be sent to college and community radio stations throughout the U.S. in December 2005.
I am offering a FREE CD and T-shirtto any speaker of Japanese who will post a review of Pools of Light on www.cdjam.jp. Click the 'Post a Review' link near the bottom of the page and follow the instructions, then contact me to receive the freebies. Thanks!
Sheet music for "Unfolding" (track 4 from my Pools of Light CD) is available for purchase on my website. Now all 12 of the piano instrumentals from the CD are avalilable online. Go to: www.briankelly.com/sheet-music/
Sheet Music: for "Open Sky" (track 1 from the Brian Kelly / Pools of Light CD) is now available for purchase on my website. Go to: www.briankelly.com/sheet-music/
Southeast Asia: For those of you living or traveling in Southeast Asia, Pools of Light is now in the stores at Sembawang Music Centres in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. It includes two bonus tracks: "April Sky" and "Tracing Rainbows". The album has been retitled "Expect A Miracle" and the artwork has been slightly modified (shown below)
Brian Kelly's Pools of Light CD has ranked #1 on the NAR radio chart for two consecutive months: June AND July 2005! (NAR= New Age Radio) Thank you radio producer/hosts for appreciating and supporting my music.
Brian Kelly's Pools of Light CD is #1 on the instrumental music radio chart! After one month of promotion to radio stations around the world, my CD, Pools of Light, entered the New Age Reporter (NAR) charts at the #1 position for June 2005. NAR logs all radio play by reporting New Age/Instrumental radio programs around the world. It is essentially the 'Billboard' of the New Age radio market. My music is currently being heard on over 175 radio programs.
The Pools Of Light CD by Brian Kelly is now available on Apple iTunes. Download any of the 13 songs for 99 cents each, or the entire album for $9.99. Unfortunately, iTunes shows the old version of the CD cover. This is because I submitted the CD to them last fall before the final cover was done. Don't worry, the music is the same.
Sheet Music for "Troubadour" from the Brian Kelly Pools Of Light CD (transcribed and arranged for solo piano) is available for online purchase in pdf format.
"Angels Breathing", track #8 from my 
