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Shoshannah - News & Reviews

Professional Reviews of Soul Journey CD

KATHY PARSONS, MUSIC REVIEWER FOR SOLO PIANO PUBLICATIONS

"Soul Journey" is a gorgeous collection of nine solo piano improvisations by Shoshannah, a composer,pianist,educator and therapist. Classically-trained from a young age, Shoshannah won a variety of major piano competitions in her youth, and appeared to have a very promising career as a concert pianist ahead of her. However, she had never stopped composing or improvising her own music, and her creativity and interest in diverse musical forms lead her in other directions. When she moved to Jerusalem, Shoshannah experienced a profound spiritual transformation that changed her life and music, making her a vessel through which divine love flowed as music. Shoshannah's playing is effortless and fluid, and the music on this CD is versatile in mood, style, and ethnicity. Each track depicts a different aspect of a soul's journey, and the album as a whole creates a warm invitation to look inward and experience life's many joys and gifts. "Soul Journey 2" will be released very soon, in which grammy nominated cellist David Darling improvises to Shoshannah's piano music - this should be a real treat!

"Emunah," is a graceful and pensive opening track that conveys a gentle sense of urgency. "Aliyah" is a thirteen-minute exploration. The title refers to Jewish immigration to Israel and the law that permits any Jew the right to settle in Israel and be granted automatic Israeli citizenship. The piece conveys many emotions, but there are feelings of peace, freedom, and movement throughout. Jazz influences can be heard, as can a series of harplike glissandos - a fascinating piece! "Eternal Love" is dedicated to the artist's mother and is much simpler in style. Full of love and grace, this piece is truly an outpouring from the heart and soul, and is a highlight of the album. The title track is serene and tranquil - a perfect peace flows from its elegant simplicity. "Into the Light" is a carefree and playful little dance that bubbles over with childlike enthusiasm. "Immersion" sparkles like light dancing on water, constantly moving and changing, yet deeply relaxing - another favorite. "Gratitude" has a warm, elegant flow and deep sincerity that touches the heart. "Gathering Sparks" is more energetic and complex. At almost eleven minutes, it has plenty of time to explore a variety of themes, some of which have a strong Middle Eastern influence. Shoshannah's virtuosity allows you to get so deep into the music that you forget that she is playing the piano - an amazing piece! "Sweet Return" closes the album with gentle innocence and sweetness.

"Soul Journey" is truly a journey for the mind as well as the soul that leaves you feeling spiritually refreshed and inspired. It is available from cdbaby.com. Recommended!

Kathy Parsons
Solo Piano Publications
9/25/06
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BILL BINKELMAN, MUSIC REVIEWER FOR NEW AGE REPORTER

An example of not judging a book by its cover, Shoshannah's piano album Soul Journey is not what one might expect given the CD's title and cover art. Anticipating a "typical" serene new age piano recording, I was blown away by the CD's diversity, complexity and depth, as it explored assorted nooks and crannies of mood and tone via the artist's approach to improvisational piano. If you only buy one solo piano CD this year, and you are hungry for something unconventional yet wholly accessible, I highly recommend you consider this album.

Soul Journey is not experimental or disorienting, but it is refreshingly different, especially given the presentation of the album. Of course, some tracks follow the formula of this music, such as "Eternal Love" which is a gentle, soothing number with a slowly flowing melody and only a brief speed up of tempo and elevation of energy during the last third of the seven-plus minute track. Cuts like the opening "Emunah" and the next one, the near-epic length "Aliyah" (clocking in at a whopping thirteen minutes!) are the ones that made me sit up and take notice. The former is a moody introspective piece yet is also dramatic and fast-paced at times with plenty of minor key notes and chords. Shoshannah displays mastery of both the piano keys and the pedals. Her use of subtlety and nuance is a highlight, especially as she shifts gears loud to soft or fast to slow. In lesser hands, these changes of direction could be distractingly obvious and forced, but she manages to make the numerous transitions as natural as rain. "Aliyah" is simply stunning, opening with a burst of neo-Celtic melody and morphing into a jump boogie, but so quiet and restrained that it sneaks up on you, rather than shakes you. When she employs the lower register later, the cut takes on a subdued hint of the blues. Switching into a livelier mode, arpeggios of upper register notes sprinkle down like a sunshower. At the end, rolling chords cascade down on the listener one after the other in a celebratory fashion.

Other songs include the title track, a lovely number that may not be adventurous but its quietness and serenity allows the listener to catch her/his breath, "Into the Light" a cheery uptempo affair (over nine minutes long) on which the artist plays around with refrains and recurring motifs but maintains an overall laughter-filled mood, "Immersion" which echoes the classical Romanticists interrupted by a brief flurry of darker dissonance before winding down with gentility and grace, and the warm and friendly closing song, "Sweet Return" reminiscent of Robin Spielberg's music. Also of note is the eleven-minute long "Gathering Sparks," a challenging examination of shadow and mystery, colored at times by Middle Eastern/North African melodic motifs. The song is undeniably lively and spirited but minor key notes dominate the track and keep the mood from being warm until the last third of the track when things gradually lighten (still at a fast tempo, though).

I've refrained from drawing comparisons to any other piano artist (except for the brief mention of Spielberg) but that doesn't mean I don't hear echoes of some others on this CD. It's just that Shoshannah's approach is so unique that even if I am occasionally reminded of, e.g. Wayne Gratz, David Lanz, it's a fleeting association. Soul Journey is an imaginative and original recording and while not wholly "relaxing" per se (and I worry about people who buy it and are put off by its more energetic pieces and the complexity of some cuts) it's always engaging and inviting. Recording quality is excellent and Shoshannah never gets so flashy that the music's "spirit" is betrayed by an over-reliance on fireworks. I highly recommend this CD, especially if frequent solo piano offerings in the genre leave you strangely unsatisfied.

Bill Binkelman
New Age Reporter
9/26/06
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N.Y. Music Review of
Soul Journey by M.B. Finkler

The wonderment of a diamond ring....usually there is a center diamond surrounded by a setting of smaller diamonds. Each diamond is a work of perfection and a universe which can be seen in a multitude of perspectives. One is dazzled, amazed and invigorated....which is how I feel listening to Shoshannah's new 2006 collection of improvisations, "Soul Journey". Each piano improvisation is so unique. There are many styles and moods ranging from pensive to seemingly leaping to the heavens. The listening experience is not merely that of a "spectator"...one's self becomes entwined with this enrapturing music....I feel part of the "journey".... invited at once to dream along with the music and to write myself into it.

Though each piece is precious, my two favorites are "Eternal Love" and "Immersion". "Eternal Love", dedicated to the artist's mother, is at once tender, yearning, and embracing. Each repetition becomes sweeter and deeper. I experience a conversation of love and devotion. I become "immersed" in this music as it stirs my emotions and reaches into my heart. The improvisation "Immersion" is an exquisite piece of music that simulates the drops of water in a beautifully rhythmic and melodic pattern. I imagine being in a magnificent place with beams of light....freely dancing and basking in water, warmth and light. As the piece is appropriately titled, I experience a real sense of "Immersion". I especially like this piece because the piano at times sounds like a clear, resonant, high-pitched flute that is fluid and connected in the same way water is. "Immersion" conveys an innocent joyousness {pianistically conveyed by Baroque trills with running and skipping on the keys}, together with thoughtful pensive pauses. Shoshannah explores every human emotion and executes her solo inspirations in an incredibly wide range of piano styles and moods. The title album cut "Soul Journey," reflects what is intrinsic to all of Shoshannah's originals, ...meaningful introspection while openly reaching out into the depths of a personal and soulful experience. The entire collection of "Soul Journey" appears to be unbounded from time, space, emotion, and style.... inviting us into the vast and brilliant universe of Shoshannah's mind and talent that is reflective of the infinite and sweetest gifts given by our Creator.

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