Denise Young: REVIEWS

Denise Young
SOMETHING YOU DREAM OF…
Dancing Horses Music

"The Taj Mahal awaits you."

"The whole story starts with a blatant act of vandalism, but more about that later. Denise Young is one of the new pianists that create their music with pensive thoughts, rainbow filled skies and verdant fields of beauty and translate them into music. Her new release Something You Dream of… is aptly named and a word of caution, this music can produce prodigious daydreams. This is my favorite kind of album, contemporary music with light ensemble. Just two or three pieces performing serene melodies. Denise Young played by ear at the age of four. She graduated from Maryville University, St. Louis with a degree in Music Therapy. She has used her music as a treatment for mental and physical impairments and has witnessed firsthand what miracles music can bring about. Unpretentiously, she still plays coffee houses and bookstores as well as in the concert hall. Joining Denise on her wonderful album is Derrik Jordan on percussion, T. Bone Wolk on bass, Noah Wilding on vocals, Jill Haley on English horn and several others of note."

"A sad, haunting tune starts the recording and it is quite beautiful. Time Alone stands on its own and lives up to its title. There are times in your life when alone is the only way you want to be. A time to gather your thoughts, plan new strategies and maybe meditate or pray. Then there are times when it is what you are left with. Not of your own choosing of course, but there you are. Denise’s contemplative piano is brilliantly accompanied by Jill Haley’s English horn that on this tune seems to play only sad notes. The title tune Something You Dream of…with clarinet by David Weiss is quite remarkable. Somewhat similar to a Richard Stoltzman tune it is the delight that can come when the “what if” part of your mind acquiesces and you begin to daydream to your heart’s content. Without dreams we lose our souls. The song starts out as a duet and then segues into a tiny solo. Time to wake up?"

"A captivating cello score by Eugene Friesen is the melancholy background for You Were Always There. From the sound it appears that the lovers have parted and all that is left are memories. The shared knowing smiles, the passion’s flame of long stares and the tender warmth of touch are no more. Autumn Colors had a simple mix of piano and voice. The placid melody had an Erik Satie feel, but it is more colorful and the echoing voice added a self-effacing dimension. It is slow like the fall of leaves on a calm day, quiet like the human heart in repose and dulcet like the dreams of lovers. Noah’s evocative voice is the sweetest of sounds and when you hear it, you know what the angels sound like."

"Now to the crime. As a child, Denise once carved her name on a piano to hopefully prevent it from being taken away. Yes, it is shocking! She still has the piano. It is obvious that music is her life and her every breath is filled with passion for the significant meaning that every note holds. This is one of the best contemporary albums I have heard this year. Young’s liner notes say she has played at almost every venue with the exception of the Taj Mahal. Denise, Shah Jahan awaits your pleasure."
Rating: EXCELLENT!

SOMETHING YOU DREAM OF... by Denise Young
- posted by John Iverson, CKUW on 6/23/2007

"True to It's Title"
"The year 2007 is shaping up to be an incredible one for guitarist and producer Will Ackerman at his Imaginary Road Studio. The founder of Windham Hill Records has turned his focus on producing, and its quite apparent that he has the Midas touch when it comes to helping artists create beautiful heartfelt albums. This album is one of four that has come out of his studio this year that I have heard, and Will’s ability to draw the best out of the soloists he works with is quite remarkable."

"Denise Young is an extremely talented and passionate pianist and composer, and her playing is elegant, warm and straight from the heart. There is a distant familiarity to her touching melodies, and yet they are all uniquely shaped from her own creative spirit. And her playing serves as a source of inspiration for the small group of talented artists who join her on this album, including Jill Haley on English horn, Steve Schuch on violin, Eugene Friesen on cello, and Will Ackerman on guitar."

"It is hard to pick a favourite from this album, as they are all beautiful pieces in their own right. Of particular note is the poignant piano and violin duet “Falling Leaves” with Steve Schuch, the passionate piano and cello duo “You Were Always There” with Eugene Friesen, the inspiring solo piano piece “Livia’s Song”, and the memorable “Autumn Colors”, with a beautiful haunting vocalise sung by Noah Wilding."

"For lovers of heartfelt music and beautiful piano melodies, this album is a must. I highly recommend this album."
Rating: EXCELLENT

Denise Young
SOMETHING YOU DREAM OF…
Dancing Horse Music (2007)

"With so many piano releases in the new age/adult contemporary instrumental genre these days, it takes a lot to stand apart from the crowd. An exceptional producer, excellent accompanists, and memorable compositions (accessible yet not maudlin, sappy, or cliché), are all paths to success. Oh, and of course, the pianist should have talent, too."

"On Something You Dream of…, her second release, Denise Young hits all the right “notes.” Exceptional producer: Will Ackerman; excellent accompanists: Steve Schuch on violin, T Bone Wolk on bass, Eugene Friesen on cello, et al.; memorable compositions: tasteful and varied, all penned by Young herself; and finally there’s Young’s abundant artistry and technique on piano itself."

"This is a lovely CD, filled with subdued, serene and wistful music, sometimes colored with the sepia tones of sweet nostalgia while at other times tinted a darker shade with regretful/reflective emotions. One track features solo piano and the other ten have accompaniment which is frequently sparse and sometimes doesn’t even make its appearance until the song’s halfway point. I don’t know as I agree with that approach, but it makes Something You Dream Of…stand out from the rest of the pack."

"The opening “Time Alone” starts off in a pensive mood with a minimal sad piano refrain, joined later by Jill Haley’s evocative English horn. “Falling Leaves” begins livelier with the piano’s upper and lower registers playing off each other nicely. The music paints a musical image of walking through a forest as gold and red leaves fall from the canopy high overhead as sunlight filters through the branches. Schuch’s violin floats above Young’s keys and, while at times the pace is quite spirited, the emotional content stays subdued nonetheless."

"The title track has some classical music influence but is dominated by romanticism evidenced through both Young’s piano and David Weiss’ clarinet. The two pirouette and sway gently around each other, like two people meeting shyly and being swept away in the throes of love at first sight. The short piece, “You Were Always There” (on which cellist Friesen makes his guest appearance) has a mournful sound as if this was meant as a memorial of sorts."

"Two tracks that depart from the dominant somber mood are “Love Will Light Your Way” and “Why” which feature combinations of percussionist Derrik Jordan as well as Schuch, and Wolk and Ackerman himself (on guitar, of course). “Love Will Light Your Way” has a pleasant midtempo cadence and a light-heartedness to it, while “Why” morphs from its quiet solo piano opening into a lively tune with Appalachian folk flavor."

"The CD ends on an extremely touching and soothing note with the nine-minute tone poem “Autumn Colors” featuring Jordan, Wolk and Noah Wilding (on wordless vocals) providing exceptional support for Young’s subtle carefully nuanced playing. This last selection stands out as something very special, comparing favorably to Erik Satie’s or George Winston’s minimalist approach and it can be summed up with one word: sublime."

"I’ve sung the praises of producer Will Ackerman so much in the last year that to do so again would be redundant and even appear sycophantic on my part. However, the man does indeed seem to have a sixth sense when selecting talent to produce. Denise Young’s Something You Dream Of… stands out in the flood of current piano releases, partly on the strength of her playing and compositions alone, but also through the care and quality exhibited by Ackerman and the assembled guest artists. Praise is due all around, obviously. While the entire album is enjoyable, “Autumn Colors” is one of those ultra-special tracks that, all by itself, makes the CD an easy “highly recommend” on my part."

"SOMETHING YOU DREAM OF...” is pianist Denise Young’s second CD.
Produced by Will Ackerman and recorded at his Imaginary Road Studios,
Young composed seven new pieces for this project and reworked four from
her previous release, “Time Alone.” The older pieces were rerecorded on
a Steinway grand (rather than keyboards) and parts were composed for
additional musicians. “Something You Dream Of...” has a lot of the same
personnel as recent recordings by Karen Marie Garrett and Dana
Cunningham, so if you like the sound of those albums, you’ll love this
one, too. Eugene Friesen’s haunting cello, Jill Haley’s English horn,
Steve Schuch’s violin, and Noah Wilding’s ethereal vocals enchant, but
seem a bit too similar to the other two recent productions from
Ackerman, inviting comparison. That said, this is a gorgeous album, and
I love the music. Calming and uplifting, Young seeks to bring joy with
her music. A music therapist and instructor as well as a pianist and
songwriter, her playing is graceful and her music heartfelt. With
Ackerman’s production skills and Corin Nelsen’s recording genius, the
sound quality is warm and pristine. Only one track is solo piano from
beginning to end, but this is definitely a piano album with brilliant
accompanying artists."

"The CD opens with “Time Alone,” a lovely flowing piece that is a piano
solo for most of the first half and then becomes a haunting and
introspective duet for piano and English horn. “Falling Leaves” also
begins as a piano solo that evokes images of colorful leaves dancing in
the wind. Steve Schuch’s violin enhances the swirling feeling of
freedom. “Green Mountain Meadows” paints a picture of gentle
contentment with wildflowers and long grasses swaying in the breeze. Ackerman’s guitar and T Bone Wolk’s bass add a folk song flavor. The
title track is exceptional. Inspired by “The Benny Goodman Story” and
Goodman’s passion for his music, it features David Weiss on clarinet.
The emotions expressed really grab and hold you - a great piece!
“Livia’s Song” is the only piano solo, and is a beautiful, graceful
waltz. “You Were Always There” is my favorite. I love piano and cello,
and Eugene Friesen is a master. This haunting piece could melt rocks
and makes me say “wow!” every time I hear it. I also really like “Love
Will Light Your Way,” a more upbeat and optimistic composition for
piano, percussion, and bass. “West River” is a duet for piano and
guitar that carries feelings of longing and of open space. “Autumn
Colors” is the closing track. At almost 9 1/ 2 minutes, it takes its
time to develop and evolve. Noah Wilding’s incredible voice accompanies
the piano with floating, wordless vocals. The piano is Satie-like in
its evocative simplicity, soothing the mind and creating dreamy images."

“Something You Dream Of...” is a wonderful listening experience and
should put Denise Young high on the charts. RECOMMENDED!

"Denise Young has the heart of a romantic, but her music is not lost in unnecessary ornamentation. Livia’s Song, for instance, is a deeply emotional composition which never relies on flourish or bombast to make it’s point or to reach us on a very powerful level. There is an element of innocence to Denise and her music which enables the listener to go to a musical and emotional place that is not commonly found these days: the world is poorer for it, but we are the richer for her sincere and heartfelt composition and graceful performance."