Welcome Home: The Very Best of Liz Story

Amazon.com
Unlike Peter Kater and Jim Brickman, pianist Liz Story rarely opts for sweet reveries and commercial pop ditties. Her compositions are always shadowed and textured, which doesn't stop her from creating haunting melodies like "Church of Trees" and "Wedding Rain." As its title suggests, this collection spans Story's career, from her first Windham Hill album, Solid Colors, in 1982, up through a piece newly recorded for this CD. Welcome Home reveals Story's range. There's the serene introspection of "Hymn," the riotous calamity of "Broken Arrow Drive," and a couple of flings with jazz standards, "My Foolish Heart" and "My Romance." Jazz is not Story's strong suit, but even here, playing with bassist Joel DiBartolo, Story takes these familiar tunes and makes them her own. --John Diliberto

Tracks:

Bradley's Dream
Reconciliation
Broken Arrow Drive
Ana
Wedding Rain
Church of Trees
Welcome Home
Things With Wings
My Foolish Heart
Escape Of The Circus Ponies
Devotion
Voices
Hymn
My Romance
for Mark, Unwound

Amazon.com

Unlike Peter Kater and Jim Brickman, pianist Liz Story rarely opts for sweet reveries and commercial pop ditties. Her compositions are always shadowed and textured, which doesn't stop her from creating haunting melodies like "Church of Trees" and "Wedding Rain." As its title suggests, this collection spans Story's career, from her first Windham Hill album, Solid Colors, in 1982, up through a piece newly recorded for this CD. Welcome Home reveals Story's range. There's the serene introspection of "Hymn," the riotous calamity of "Broken Arrow Drive," and a couple of flings with jazz standards, "My Foolish Heart" and "My Romance." Jazz is not Story's strong suit, but even here, playing with bassist Joel DiBartolo, Story takes these familiar tunes and makes them her own. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Classic of New Age Piano.......2005-01-09

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.

contemplative piano.......2004-02-18

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.

Compilation of Composer's Finest Work.......2003-04-24

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.

A delicately beautiful collection.......2002-06-22

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.

Her soul exposed........2002-02-18

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.

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music

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Dirty Harriet [Clean]

Deodato 2 [Original recording remastered]

Complete String Quartets 6

Down by the Glory Hole [Explicit Lyrics]

Clube da Viola Raizes, Vol. 3 [Import]

Enter the Diamond Needle Dynasty [Explicit Lyrics]

Galuppi: Il Filosofo Di Campagna

KKSF 103.7 FM Sampler for AIDS Relief, Vol. 3