Walls I Left Behind

Mark Pinkus

“Walls I Left Behind” by 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

“Walls I Left Behind” by Mark Pinkus

Album Review by New Age CD and New Age Notes Radio Staff

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

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 in 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 MaVie 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

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Available for purchase as digital downloads on:

Walls I Left Behind

Mark Pinkus

Ballerina in the Sky

Mark Pinkus

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