This CD represents my original music composing for solo piano in the last few years. Lots have been going on with my life- it’s all here in the music! Songs for my father, our beloved dog, Sadie, our cat, an Americana piece, a couple of orchestral pieces condensed for piano, and some wonderful eclectic solo piano pieces to inspire the listener and challenge the pianist! I’ve paid close attention to arrange these songs so they highlight the beautiful sound of solo piano!
I have never awarded “Album of the Year” status to one recording because I always have several favorites for the year, but I think I’m going to have to make an exception with Mike Strickland’s Fantasy. My one-word review of this incredible solo piano album is “WOW!!!” Mike Strickland has performed in concert at my house twice and I’ve been listening to his music for years (this is his twenty-second release), so I know what an amazing pianist/composer he is, but Fantasy still took me by surprise. Even the sound quality of the album is superlative with a warmth that is never too bright even at the top end of the piano. Strickland did it all on this recording – compose, perform, record, engineer, mix, master and produce – and again, I am blown away. Strickland is incredibly versatile – from jazz to classical to new age, pop and everything in between – and this album has a really nice mix of styles that maintain a wonderful mood while showcasing a broad range of what he can do at the piano. (There are no blues or boogie tunes this time, but if that’s what you crave, check out Strickland’s 2011 Mississippi Boy!). I’ve been listening to this album while working on the computer and in the evening while doing some quiet odds and ends, and while it provides a rich backdrop, this isn’t music that stays in the background – it’s too good for that and needs to be savored and appreciated.