THE CROSSING - BEST OF CASON
CD review by Kathy Parson
Mainly Piano.com
“The Crossing” is a
collection of eleven of Shirley Cason’s
most-requested pieces from four of her previous
albums. I have always liked Shirley’s music a lot,
and this compilation has taken her strongest pieces from
the past nine years and exhibits the variety of
colors in her music.
Much of Cason’s music was borne
of personal crises and the loss of loved ones, so there
is definitely a melancholy cast to many of these
pieces, but they are neverbleak or without hope.
Cason’s music is instrumental with classical and pop
influences, and most of it is lightly orchestrated on
keyboards.
Cason has placed the music on this CD in
chronological order with three tracks each from
“Forever In Bloom” (1999), “A Summer Dream” ( 2002), and
“Winter Mornings” (2003), and two from her
most-recent release, “From My Heart” (2008).
If you
are new to Shirley Cason’s music, this is a great
place to start! If you have her previous recordings,
it’s still really nice to have a “best of”
collection with favorites all on one disc.
“The Crossing” begins with “Journey,” the opening track from
“Forever In Bloom,” and a piece full of wistful
longing. “Seabreeze” has an easy tropical rhythm and
a graceful, carefree sway. I absolutely love “Last
Walk” from “A Summer Dream.” On the dark, mysterious
side, the emotional impact of this piece is incredible.
I found myself coming back to it over and over. The rhythms
and melody are simple, but they certainly communicate!
“I Love You, I Do” is a heartbreaking goodbye to a
terminally ill sister, and then “Summer Dream” tells of
being with loved ones again in dreams, that in dreams
we never die.
There is a real warmth and sense of peace
that is truly hopeful and healing. “Beauty Of the Earth”
from “Winter Mornings” is a gorgeous guitar piece with
light orchestration that shimmers with beauty and glows
with a deep sense of contentment. “Winter Skies” is
more ambient, and sparkles with the chill of winter
light dancing on snow - so peaceful! “Icicle Melt” is also
very ambient, suggesting the sound of vast open
stillness and the percussive sound of ice melting -
wonderfully haunting! “Inner Peace With Love” from
“From My Heart” warms things back up again with a tender
love song that is graceful and soothing. “Peace, For
Moments in Life” is a heartfelt guitar piece that brings
this collection to a charming, thoughtful close.
If you enjoy peaceful synth and keyboard music that comes from the heart,
“The Crossing” is a great choice! It is available from www.shirleycason.com and amazon.com. Recommended!
Kathy Parsons
MainlyPiano.com
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