Larkenlyre Releases Album ‘Dragonfly Halfdreams’

"Larkenlyre Releases Album ‘Dragonfly Halfdreams’"

You must have been dozing.

You find you are in a deep green wood by a pond on this drowsy morning, surrounded by the music of some birds, some crickets, some frogs, some very playful dragonflies. How did you get here? Too much effort. You’d prefer to keep enjoying the beautiful halfdreams still lingering from your morning reveries.

A little light rain brings new music into the mix. It doesn’t last long, but it excites the dragonflies, who embark on a game in three dimensions, but who’s chasing who? For a moment you realize that this small world around you and the boundless world within you have both become still. The stillness stays, even as the dragonflies are at it again, this time less urgently, hovering and humming.

Some peepers decide to join the chorus- is the sun behind a cloud or has the day already passed? Does it matter? They sound as sleepy as you are. What else would one do in this curious place?

“When I dream I fly with you.”

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Matthew Labarge has released seven albums of solo piano music, nine albums of mixed instruments as Larkenlyre, and an album of pirate-themed lounge music as Cane Bay Cabaret. He works tirelessly in a tiny studio in Blacksburg, Virginia to bring you albums that unfold like a novel, are worth listening to carefully, and still yield new insights after many listens.

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Neil Patton Releases Album ‘The Small Hours’

"Neil Patton Releases Album ‘The Small Hours’"

One night, many stories. These are musical narratives of the nighttime hours as they are experienced the world over. Spawned largely during the stressful months of pandemic shutdowns and social turmoil, these pieces were a source of solace and peace as Neil intentionally composed in a quieter vein.

“Musically, Neil is at the top of his game. The album is perfectly produced and the tone of Neil’s piano is to die for. How he created the tone is a mystery. The Small Hours is a perfect solo piano collection. Highly recommend.”

– Fonz Tramontano of Clouzine, Contemporary Music Magazine

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About Neil

Neil Patton is a pianist, composer, singer and teacher in Eugene, OR. His music for solo piano is a unique fusion of Classical, Folk and Rock influences that has emotionally impacted listeners around the globe. He is an honors graduate of the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance, and has released six critically acclaimed collections of original solo piano music since 2007.

His 2015 album, Between Shadow and Light (#13 on Zone Music Reporter Airplay Charts) was awarded Album of the Year at MainlyPiano.com, and his 2022 album Holy Ground won Christian Album of the Year 2022 at SoloPiano.com. His single Water of Life (from his debut album, Impromptu) reached the #23 spot on the Whisperings top 100 in 2012, and was one of 16 tracks included on the popular Whisperings Vol I: Music to Quiet Your World album released in 2011. Clockwork, a duet composed and recorded with legendary pianist David Nevue, was released on Nevue’s critically acclaimed album, Winding Down, and was named Song of the Year, 2015 at MainlyPiano.com.

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Bob Yonker Releases Album ‘The Seeker’

"Bob Yonker Releases Album ‘The Seeker’"

The songs on this album were almost entirely composed in the moment during the recording session. It was my intent to just allow the musical tones and energy of the Universe to flow through to create an album that will “speak” to the listeners in whatever way is needed.

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Bob Yonker creates solo piano music with the intent of calming the mind, soothing the soul, and healing the planet one note at a time.

Growing up in the northeast, Yonker’s earliest musical memory is of his mother singing and playing the piano in his childhood home. He can remember his curiosity while watching her play and was always fascinated by the sounds created by the piano and how it worked.

At the age of 4, he started playing simple songs all by himself. At 6 he started lessons, but after a year, his teacher realized that Bob was playing by ear and not reading the notes. Bob had had his sister play the song for him and he would then learn it by listening, and was “found out” after playing his piece for a recital in the wrong key. He later did learn how to read, but has always been more comfortable playing his own style and his own compositions best.

Being told by colleges that his style of music was not what they were looking for without classical training, Bob decided to change career paths and received a degree in agricultural science from Penn state, and worked many years helping the environment, while working second jobs in group homes for the mentally challenged, which he enjoyed immensely, as well as being the organist for his hometown church.

In the 90’s, while still working full-time, Bob went back to school and received a triple degree in Special Education, Elementary Education, and Early Childhood Education, which allowed him to switch career paths once again to become a special needs teacher.

Now “re-passioned” from his teaching career, Bob has returned to his first love – music – and has composed 7 albums of contemplative, contemporary, and meditative solo piano music as well as one Christmas album. His 8th, and latest, album, The Seeker, is comprised of songs improvised on the spot at the recording studio with the intent to bring calm and joy and maybe even emotional healing to the listener. Many pieces were inspired by Bob’s new life in Europe with his wife Karen. Bob has performed for local fans in the town where he lives and has begun working cooperatively with a local therapist in sound healing and breath sessions playing intuitively for those participating.

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Shoshana Michel Releases Solo Piano Album ‘Storyteller’

"Shoshana Michel Releases Solo Piano Album ‘Storyteller’"

Soundslikecafe is proud to present this wonderful solo pianist from the USA.

The music from Storyteller was inspired by and reflects different facets of Shoshana’s life, emotions, people and memories. It is a blend of compositions written not so long ago and those that were, but for one reason or another were not recorded, until now.

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About

Shoshana Michel is a classically trained contemporary solo pianist. She has performed different genres of music at different venues from ragtime at Knott’s Berry Farm to contemporary solo piano at The Galleria at South Bay in Redondo Beach, California.

Storyteller is Shoshana’s seventh solo piano album. Her music has been used in documentaries, a promo film, has received accolades, nominations and awards and is featured on Sirius XM Radio – The Spa, Calm Radio, Whisperings Solo Piano Radio and many other stations worldwide.

Shoshana’s playing has been described as “graceful and flowing” and “refined and elegant”. Her music will inspire, stir the heart and touch the soul. The music she writes is inspired by life experiences, people and emotions. Shoshana feels that music is healing and is passionate about sharing her music with others. She currently resides with her avian family in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Album Credits

All pieces composed and performed by Shoshana Michel

Produced by Shoshana Michel

Recorded on a Shigeru Kawai SK7L

Engineered and mastered by Joe Bongiorno at Piano Haven Studio, Sedona, AZ

Graphic art and design by Matt Strieby

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