Liz Story with Joel Di Bartolo (1996)

Described on the back cover as "Melodic piano voicings of romantic standards from the 1920's and '30's [sic] including classics by Gershwin, Johnny Mercer and Cole Porter - along with enchanting contemporary ballads."

Classy dinner party music. You can't go wrong with standards - that's why they're standards - and bassist Joel Di Bartolo adds some nice touches to the arrangements (Story and Di Bartolo were married at the time of recording). Still, I'm putting this one in the "good, not great" category and will probably stick with Story's solo improvisation releases, especially Speechless. For more about this self-titled release, here's an article about the album from Billboard magazine: Windham Hill's Liz Story Reaches Beyond New Age (Oct 5, 1996) or you can visit the 1996 Windham Hill website thanks to the Internet Archive Wayback Machine: windham.com.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard New Age: #22

Tracks with composer and year of publication:

1. The Very Thought Of You - Ray Noble, 1934 ✔
2. Memories of You - Eubie Blake, 1930
3. Someone To Watch Over Me - George Gershwin, 1926 ✔
4. Church of Trees - Liz Story, 1990 ✔
5. Mack The Knife - Kurt Weill, 1928
6. I Thought About You - Jimmy Van Heusen, 1939
7. In The Still Of The Night - Cole Porter, 1937
8. Elm - Richard Beirach, 1979
9. I Can't Get Started - Vernon Duke, 1936
10. Ana - Liz Story, 1986

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Gift (1994)
Escape of the Circus Ponies (1990)
Speechless (1988)
Part Of Fortune (1986)
Solid Colors (1982)

Liz Story - Solid Colors (1982)

There's any number of jazz/NewAge improvisational pianists, including big names like Keith Jarrett and George Winston, but my ear seems to prefer the music created by Liz Story. Solid Colors was the debut album from Story and consists of 9 original works for solo piano as well as a cover of Bill Evans's Peace Piece. With a technique she would continue to display throughout her recording career, Story plays intricate but relaxing improvisations - usually lilting above a pedal point or ostinato bass - with a delicate, but lively touch.

And I'm puzzled by the fact the album cover does not use solid colors in the chosen painting ("Unaccountable Bluish Glow" by Michael S. Moore).

Press of the time:

• High Fidelity: "an impressive introduction to an impressive new artist."
• Billboard: "a personal style centered in ringing chordal passages but still graced with poise."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #21
• CashBox Jazz: #18

Note: Billboard did not debut a New Age Albums chart until October 29, 1988.

Tracks: Not only should you listen to this album in total and in sequence, you should pair it with other Story albums whenever you want some quiet, alone time. Today, my favorite tracks are Pacheco Pass, the title track, and Bradley's Dream. Headphones recommended.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Gift (1994)
Escape of the Circus Ponies (1990)
Speechless (1988)
Part Of Fortune (1986)

Various Artists - Windham Hill Records Sampler '94 (1994)

In today's world, there's no need for label samplers such as this because of streaming and file sharing. So this relic is a product of a bygone era (sheesh, Mark, melodramatic much?). Likewise, much has been made of the impending doom of the compact disc (ain't gonna happen if I can help it, folks). But it's a great time for CD buyers like myself as people are discarding CDs as if they were landlines and I'm here to happily pick up the leftovers like a dog under a dinner table. For example, I got this disc as part of a 39 CD lot recently purchased on eBay for only $10. I'll do the math for ya: just under 26¢ per CD.

In any case, this CD is as advertised. Tracks from Windham Hill label's New Age/World Music/ambient noodling/yoga music releases. To be honest, I'm unfamiliar with most of these artists as I had already been through my Windham Hill phase back in the '80s. However, it's very relaxing and I'm digging it more than I thought I might. I woulda paid twice the price. 😉 Surprisingly good compilation when considering the label, then 18 years old, was in flux (Windham Hill was purchased by BMG through a series of buyouts from 1992 through 1996).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Peak on the US Billboard New Age Chart: #2*

Tracks: 13 tracks, 61 minutes

1. Bright Sky by Alex De Grassi ✔
2. Love on Three Levels by Psychograss
3. Sentimental Walk by Philip Aaberg ✔
4. Pavanne by Steve Erquiaga ✔
5. Night In That Land by Nightnoise ✘
6. Patu by Aquarela Carioca
7. Firewater by Gaia
8. How Insensitive by Liz Story ✔
9. A Happy Home in Kathmandu by Will Ackerman
10. Redonda by Modern Mandolin Quartet
11. Pas de Deux by Scott Cossu 
12. My Heart by Øystein Sevåg ✘
13. Ivory by Ray Lynch ✘

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

*I had no idea until today that Billboard had ever produced a New Age album chart and evidently it's still going strong. In any case, this particular sampler was kept out of the top spot on said chart by a live Yanni album.

Liz Story - Escape of the Circus Ponies (1990)

Perfect melancholy, relaxing music for a cool, rainy day (even though it's sunny, dry, and 90° as I listen and write this). I've enjoyed the New Age piano improvisational noodlings on Story's 1988 album Speechless for almost 25 years, so whenever I see a Story CD from around that time in the used CD bin, I'll pick it up. This is every bit as good as Speechless, but I guess that earlier album was just the right music at the right time because I continue to prefer it to Story's other work. That's how it goes sometimes.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart:  Did not chart

Tracks: 9 tracks, 50 minutes. My picks here are Broken Arrow Drive and Church Of Trees. Skip the title cut and Another Shore.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Gift (1994)
Speechless (1988)
Part Of Fortune (1986)

Liz Story - The Gift (1994)

I'm not a connoisseur of New Age music, but I've enjoyed Liz Story's piano improvisations. This album is a collection of mostly traditional English, French, German and Italian carols, some familiar, some unfamiliar. There's also the occasional 20th century tune (The Christmas Song, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas), but most come from much, much earlier. Story is accompanied by an acoustic bass on 6 of the 14 tracks; the rest are solo piano. If you like George Winston's albums Winter or December, you should pick this up. The only thing that bothers me is the fact that a few of the tracks fade out at the end which seems like a strange production choice for solo piano.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart:  Did not chart

Tracks:  It all sounds pretty much the same, so if you like one, you like 'em all. Highlights for me include Il Es Ne Le Divin Enfant, O Come O Come Immanuel/Personent Hodie, and a great take on In The Bleak Midwinter. I also enjoy The Truth From Above which includes O Sacred Head Now Wounded which serves as a gentle reminder about how the Christmas story ends.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  Generic Christmas memories: lighted tree, fire place, hot cocoa, quiet nights of reflection. This is a disc you listen to alone, not in the car while looking at Christmas lights in the neighborhood.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Speechless (1988)
Part Of Fortune (1986)

Liz Story - Part Of Fortune (1986)

Unlike most of her fans, I prefer Story's two albums for the RCA Novus label to her other work. In 1989, I fell in love with Liz Story's 1988 album, Speechless, but never went out and bought more of her music. That's way out of character for me. I don't remember buying this CD, but it is currently out of print, so I must have picked it up used. I have only a few New Age albums, but I have to confess that I enjoy listening to Story's piano improvisations. While I doubt I'll like any of her music as much as Speechless, this is pretty close.

Tracks: My favorites are Toy Soldiers, The Elephant Trainer, the title track, Reconciliation, and Ana. This release has a few tracks that include additional instrumentation (percussion, strings, etc.). On Toy Soldiers and Ana these additions enhance the music while the strings and vocals on Duende and Ubi Caritas make those two tracks seem out of place. In fact, there's no piano at all on Ubi Caritas which makes me wonder why it's even included on the CD.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Speechless (1988)

Liz Story - Speechless (1988)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a cassette, later replaced by a CD.

I don't listen to much New Age music, but I have to admit that I enjoy this solo piano release. It is very relaxing, but more melodic than most new age music. I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing these recordings were mainly improvisations. For years, I tried to find a CD copy. Once the Internet began to catch on in the mid '90s, I was able to find a copy online.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "thoughtful, moody solo pieces will please older, new-age oriented fans"
• Gavin Report: "seven fine solo piano pieces"

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: Only 7 here. While I'm never tempted to skip any tracks, I'd have to say my favorites are Forgiveness, Hermes Dance, and Back Porch.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: In the spring of 1989, I was a graduate student studying music education at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Twice a week, I would drive from my downtown job at the San Antonio Symphony out I-10 to UTSA. Once I found this cassette tape at the Half Price Books on Broadway, it kept me company on many of those trips.