Reviews
Walls I Left Behind
© 2023 Mark Pinkus
Album Review by New Age CD and New Age Notes Radio Staff
With over 18,000 listeners on Spotify alone, award-winning solo piano player, Mark Pinkus, is doing something right. Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Mark started composing music at a very young age. His 17th album, “Walls I Left Behind,” is a whopping 20 tracks, 74 minutes of quintessential solo piano.
Mark’s music plays around the world on New Age radio stations, online and terrestrial, as well as on satellite programs. Mark’s CDs were distributed by the label Avalon/Solitudes in 45 countries and by Polygram and Universal Music, Canada. His album “Feeling Right At Home” won the award for Best Original Solo Piano Album at the EPR music awards held in September 2017, at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Mark also writes books and composes music for documentaries.
Back in the old days when we used to have such things, I had a CD series, “Cocktail Piano,” by the late Jim Haskins. It was excellent, and it was on all the time in our house. For some reason, this Mark Pinkus CD reminds me so much of that series, only better, if such a thing is possible. Every piece on this album is very calming and you could have it on all day and never tire of it.
Every track is quite melodic, and while all are in Mark’s signature style, nothing here sounds the same as the next. I say that because it is actually artistically challenging to do that, particularly with twenty different tracks, because as artists, it is sometimes easy and perhaps automatic in some ways, to find ourselves playing the same sequence of notes or chord progressions. We don’t have any of that here, which is part of what makes this album so wonderful.
We can’t address all twenty tracks here, but some favorites: The opening composition, “No Room For Me,” is lovely and has a wistfulness about it. And yet, it’s optimistic and hopeful at the same time. “Knapsacks,” which follows, has a very sweet nostalgia about it. Yes, we have left childhood behind, but those memories are always part of us. “From Place To Place” has a wonderful cadence and melody. There is no traveling frenzy here. We are simply moving gracefully from place to place.
We all experience darkness in our lives at one time or another. Regarding “Sunny Days Behind The Clouds,” Mark says, “It might take quite some time to pierce through the darkness we are experiencing but sooner or later that light will find a way to pierce through and give us new life to move on.” It’s so true. There’s a bit of a quiet, somber aspect to the piece, as one might surmise. However, as Mark says, there is always that light. This is a great piece for introspection and contemplation.
Of “In Search of Whales,” Mark says, “My dream is to see a whale in the ocean. I’ve gone to places where they are but for some reason, I never saw one. That’s what inspired this piece.” Well, for someone who has never seen a whale in the ocean, I would say this composition captures the grandeur of these creatures perfectly. Dramatic chords begin the song, and it just gets better from there. I love this.
Gentle, peaceful, melodic, “Take Down The Fences,” is beautiful in all its vulnerability. There comes a time in life where you must let your guard down in order to love. This is gorgeous in every way. The album closes out with one of my ultimate favorites here, “This Is All About Love.” The chord progressions are wonderful, the elegant melody as well, and Mark’s piano performance certainly highlights his great gift of musical artistry. Do yourself a favor and get the whole album. It’s all wonderfully relaxing and effortlessly heart-centering. Yes, it IS all about love.
Ballerina in the Sky
© 2022 Mark Pinkus
Ballerina in the Sky is the latest release from Canadian composer and pianist Mark Pinkus. On this fifteen-track album, Pinkus uses classical blandishments over contemporary themes to create a solo piano recording of relaxing and pensive tunes suitable for all listeners of many genres. The music is lighter than a graceful jeté and more delightful than an afternoon in a turn-of-the-century French parlor. Mark Pinkus is an award-winning composer who plays on the global stage. Mark likes to perform live, and his music is often heard on satellite and radio stations around the world.
The album opens with the tune Simple Music for Complex People. Pinkus’ subject is an attention-getter without being showy. There is a lot to hear. In this unpretentious song, including the suggestion of sunny skies and romantic walks. You can easily get enchanted by this music. Je Ne Fais Rien De Ma Vie translates as “ I Do Nothing with My Life. “ It is one of the more poignant songs on the album, and I cannot believe this applies to this remarkable artist. But if we succeed on some level in life, it may not be at the level we hoped for. The music, however, is persistent.
The Ballerina in the Sky may be helped by this song called The Wind. Mark’s tune is heartfelt and beautiful. The melody may suggest a blustery time once in a while, but consistency is found by the end. The tune The Light is On is a kind of promise. A promise that you will wait matter what. Night after night, you watch the path, hoping for a return. The Early Morning Coffee Club is a favourite of mine for its classical undercurrents. Although the day is bright and new, you have your own plans. Every new day is a new opportunity to try again. Sometimes the club only has a single member, but that does not dissuade you from trying to beat the rising sun at its own game. Total Lack of Communication is sombre and seriously moody. There are even some dissonant notes in the phrasing that lead you to think there is a problem on every level. There is a storm in this mind, as if almost on the brink of despair. There is awfulness in the music. The title track, Ballerina in the Sky, is an intricate composition with a lot of delicate movement, some flowing strides, and a great deal of elegance. Mark has imbued the song with a graceful symmetry, a balance if you will, of melody and message. It is obvious that the ballerina appears weightless, but in fact she bears the weight of her commitment. Great arrangement. Twisting of My Mind is one of the more animated tunes on the album. It is waltz of complications and confusion. The melody starts out somewhat romantic, but the theme seems to find a murky place and hover there. It is not all dark, but there is a feeling of overcasting sensibilities. Take heart. The clouds will part soon. There is a warm familiarity about the tune The Tree of Prayer. The melody is light and reverent. The music suggests to me that there is salvation in a smile. There is hope in every good deed. But most importantly, our God(s) hears every prayer. Other tracks include Caught Between, Miracles, Dream After Dream, and Breathe. In Peace, The Bird and the Dog, Take Your Time, and Mi Amica Graziella.
There is a lot of music on this album. Mark Pinkus is generous in his offerings to help you find calm, but also to do a bit of thinking along the way. There are memories to recall, romances to live over, and dreams to fulfil with the help of this sensitive and sometimes sensual music. With almost a dozen highly listenable albums to his credit, this composer seems to always be on the right track.
Highly recommended. R.J.J Lannan, ArtisanMusic Reviews
Unknown Faces
© 2021 Mark Pinkus
Here is the review of my album Unknown Faces by Steve Sheppard of OWMR... Thanks again Steve for the wonderful review! There is nothing quite like the fluent genius of a Mark Pinkus release, the Canadian born composer and performer has been on my musical radar now for some 20 years, and with each release more beauty of composition is created, with this brand new offering entitled Unknown Faces, we have one of the most colourful and powerful collections of solo piano arrangements yet. This 17 track exhibition of solo pieces is outstanding; take songs like the sparkling reverie of Came Back to Life as an example, or the moving opus that is A Cry for Peace, a composition that seems to have been created from the artists very own desire for the subject matter, and without doubt one of the most moving tracks off the album. Nestled just around the half way marker is another personal favourite of mine, and called Little Black Heart, the reflective nuances here were simply amazing, and Pinkus’s performance on this composition alone would have gained a standing ovation with ease, mix that with a topical subject at the moment as we listen to the arrangement Isolation. There is true darkness about this piece that is compelling, but also strangely cathartic. My next chosen piece is a fine presentation of what we all need right now, and called Inner Strength. This is a curious, yet inventive offering, almost in tone and energy to an anthem, but with a layer of sensitivity built into the weave of the song as well. Unknown Faces by Mark Pinkus would be in my view the artists best work to date, he has captured those all-important reflective and emotional nuances perfectly, and manifested a vast collection of solo piano compositions, that are completely accessible to all who just love really good music, and appreciate the hard work and dedication put in to achieve such a wonderful goal.
Sonyando
© 2020 Mark Pinkus
There is something secretive and romantic about Sonyando, the latest release from contemporary pianist Mark Pinkus. The musical sense is that it is from another time and another place when men and women were quite proper. When I listened to these dreamy tracks of piano, I imagined Sunday. Afternoons in the parlour, taking tea, or long walks along the boulevard that bisects the park and all of its forested paths. This is an album for lovers and nostalgics. It is a chronicle of love, even though it only lasted a short while, it spanned two lifetimes. The first song Compatibility, has a comforting melody with a balance of warmth and intimacy. It voices that little spark that you get whenever you see how she sees you. It is music that says; Here I am; now take my soul. Pinkus incorporates many artistic and classical elements in this music. On Morning Tears Mark uses a tinkle on the ivories to craft a sweet, sad song that touches the soul like a first kiss. The idea that you love and are being loved can be so overwhelming that tears are the only way to communicate your happiness. These are tears of joy. Mark does this very well with the piano’s emotionally rich notes. Fire in Relationship is my favourite of all the tracks. The music is anguishing with deep emotion. The classical blandishments imbue it with an old-world vibe, but the melody is fairly modern. Like any relationship there are doubts, pain, and misunderstandings, on the one hand, and tenderness, warmth, and love, on the other hand. In this tune, they are mixed like a tossed salad, but they end up being passionately palatable. The whisperings of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata are surreptitiously woven. Into the song Trust in the Divine. This is one of the more serious songs on Sonyando. Heavy bass notes convene to announce the power of faith while the higher registers rise above to be used as aspirants. The tune balances out well as an offering of gratitude. One of the lighter tunes on the album is a piece called Through the Eyes of Love. It has a popular ring to it – simple, true, and memorable. We can be silly, or angry, or stupid, or worse yet, wrong, but love always forgives us. This rhythmic, vibrant tune is a theme song for all lovers. This tune reminds me that Herman Hesse once said if I know what love is, it is because of you. The torch song, Sonyando, is an impassioned effort of intense emotion. This is another way in which Pinkus infuses that Old World impression. It reminds me of a time, the turn of the century really, when vows were sacred. And devotion was a promise kept. This expressive theme is soul-stirring and poetic. Dream of the Lotus Flower is poignant and melodic. It is the anthem. To some sad story told a thousand times by others with hope in their heart. The music is measured and ardent. The bloom unfolds, and we have a story. There is beauty and depth. And there is love in this intricate offering. A resounding gong, a glass harp, and a series of single notes define the ending. The final cut, literally, is called The Silence Between Us. There is there no argument here. No misunderstanding. There is just no us anymore. This creates a silence deeper and wider than any broken heart can endure. It is a soul made out of glass that has been carelessly dropped and broken. There’s no fixing this. The entire album is an undeniable testament to what constitutes contemporary music. It has been infused with a great deal of passion. Mark Pinkus using his piano as his own voice has discovered, smiled, laughed, cried, and lost in a single lifetime. This is what the journey sounds like in his seventeen vignettes in which the heart has been the star. Highly listenable.
R. J. Lannan, Artisan Music Reviews
Romantic Excuse
© 2015 Mark Pinkus
Romantic Excuse is a single in the jazz ballad style inspired by a complex romantic relationship..
Passion
© 2015 Mark Pinkus
The Peace Messenger
© 2014 Mark Pinkus
What does peace sound like? Silence perhaps? No. Silence is just the absence of sounds. Peace is more of a feeling and a state of mind. Mark Pinkus’ The Peace Messenger is a collection of songs that have different approaches to the term peace. Most importantly is, to quote two of the song titles, to be Open to Love and Compromise. It is a wonderful album from start to finish.
The Peace Messenger is Mark Pinkus’ 11th release. He describes his style as Piano impressionism with a new age and classic flavour. Music for the Heart The album starts with the song Asia’s World. It is a remarkable song, with a wonderful atmosphere and a great flow. Pinkus playing is masterful and elegant, as usual. Next song out is Apple Mountain. The 6 minutes long piece instantly demands attention – even though it is a soft and quiet melody. This is piano music meant for active listening. It is music for the heart.
With the songs Sun of Greece and Picnic in the Wintertime the atmosphere gets a bit lighter. There’s a freshness to the songs that instantly puts me in a good mood; They are like the soundtrack to a happy day. Peace is a complex topic. One of the songs on The Peace Messenger is called My Back is on Fire. It is tempting to ask; What has back pain to do with peace? A whole lot if you ask anyone who has experienced severe back pain. Peace is also something individual, and when you are in pain you are not at peace with yourself. It is fascinating to hear how Mark Pinkus’ song give a description of back pain; the pain comes and goes, and suddenly it becomes very painful. Mark is using a lot of low and dark notes to illustrate the pain. It is a great song, and it makes you feel thankful that your own back is OK. After this three melodies follow that are perfect for daytime dreaming and contemplation; By the Water, Summer Without You and Caress. I love the positive atmosphere in By the Water. Few things are more tranquil than looking out over the water, and Pinkus paints a wonderful picture of this in his song. The ending consists of three songs that conclude the album in a masterful way: Selfless Self, Open to Love and Compromise. Pinkus is absolutely right; Peace demands something from us, it is about giving. In conclusion: Mark Pinkus’ The Peace Messenger is a fantastic album for both relaxation and for active listening. It might not lead to world peace, but its message is too important to be ignored.
Score: 92/100 – See how I rate music here
- BT Fasmer of New Age Music
Simplicity
© 2013 Mark Pinkus
"This collection of 11 pieces for solo piano (TOTAL TIME OF CD: (67:12) resounds with the feeling of contemplation, deep thought and careful observation....Unassuming and gracious PInkus demostrates a sensitivity to the simple pleasures in life..PInkus's piano style is thoughtful and naturalistic without becoming overtly cloying or overwrought. He has an ability to exploit certain registers of the piano for their nuance of timbre in creating his mood-filled emotional soundscapes...this collection of piano pieces represents a tribute to the natural world, to the spirit of the individual, to the triumph of human emotion and experience. I believe Pinkus wants to encourage us all to find more simplicity in our lives."
- Bryan Hachey, Toronto, Canada.
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"Since George Winston's "December" Album" this is the best piano recording that I've been given to listen to."
- Yves Ducharme, L'ere Nouvelle Magazine, Quebec
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"Really enjoyed this album!"
- George Winston, 1996 New Age Grammy Award winner