Lullaby of Love by Evan Wish

Pianist Evan Wish’s debut disc certainly measures up to this newer manifestation of the genre. His sound is more layered than Jim Brickman’s, less fiery but more quietly intense than Szakcsi’s, less derivative than Ken Pedersen’s. His music is like the flickers of sky experienced as you drive through pale green, birch-filled glades – it shimmers and surprises at almost every turn in the road. There’s an emotional maturity, too, that glows from behind his notes, a confidence that infuses the listener with the surety that, on the spiritual plane, at least, all is well. If it’s hard to single out any one tune for praise, it’s because Wish seems preoccupied with exploring and sharing the multifarious harmonics of his soul. That’s no flaw, certainly - for those who are capable of embracing such gladness-inspired emanations. Besides, one could do worse than be a dappler of birches.”

Reviewed by: David L. Gaskill

Quotes:

"Of the many indy records I receive, Evan Wish's record is one of the few that

will go into my personal collection." Mark Strictland, All Access Music Guide.

" Melodically compelling, heartfelt and honest."

Michael Lang, Jazz Pianist, Varese-Sarabande.

** NARAS 2005 consideration in the 48th. Grammy Awards for best New Age Album. **

*Biography:

Evan Wish began playing the piano at age 7 in the classics studying the Western Board of Music in Brandon Manitoba, Canada.

Classical recitals and competitions garnering 1st. class honors would further establish Evan a protigy.

Evan began composing as a young man. His desire to establish respect as a composer led him to the United States with funding provided by the Manitoba and Canadian Government.

Studying for three years at the prestigious Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles and mentored by working composers in the entertainment industry.

With more than 20 years in the field of music, his resume now encompasses Canada, the United States and Europe writing in a variety of styles and genres.

Years later, classical study would begin again with the legendary Dr. Yakov Birman of the St. Petersburg Conservatory.

Evan’s live shows around the world touch the hearts and entertain the audience from start to finish. Performances in France, billed as: “La passion d’un romantique.”

About this album recorded live in the studio: An "Audiophile" recording:

Evan Wish - Composer/Pianist

Peter Granet - Engineer/Producer

"Audiophile" recording: of or relating to sound or to it's reproduction and especially high-fidelity reproduction.

Composer/Pianist: Evan Wish

I believe that feelings put into every note when performing are magical when consistently done. This is what I strive for; to take that into my performance every time I play, then you as the listener can hear the magic and I too will feel it all over again. This is a live recording, a moment in time when I gave it my all, and we are both drawn in.

Picking up the exact timbre of the vibrating strings, the over tones forming harmonics that ring through, is the mastery Mr. Peter Granet and his years of wisdom recording many artists, brought to the project.

Peters' work, is a who's who list dating back to the 60s' with Grammy Nominations. I am grateful that we met and together we did this recording.

With an early childhood training in classical music to my continued training even today I will always be able to improve as a pianist, and as a composer. Development of these techniques enables me to play from my soul without worrying about my hands.

My work is melodically lyrical with classical over tones of tempo and feel. The more contemporary sound comes from three years at the Dick Grove School of Music in L.A. I studied there in the early 80's, with Jack Smalley in the song writing program, and with Mr. Dick Grove in the Arranging, Orchestration and Conducting programs. Live musicians playing our charts, we were required to write in all styles and genres of contemporary music. Musical styles written in the this last century, which have come to be known as Dixieland, Broadway, Big Band Jazz etc, were the foundations of my development.

My resume encompasses Canada, the U.S. and Europe with writing credits and live performances. The performances in France were billed as: "La passion d'un romantique" translated to "The passion of a Romantic" which pretty much sums up what I do.

I would be happy to hear from you, a new listener who enjoys what I have loved to do for so long and will continue to do so. Till the next time when I will record again.

Producer/Engineer: Peter Granet

The album, "Lullaby of Love" is the culmination of years of work by Evan and me. Our collaboration began over seven years ago, in 1997 when we met at a dinner party. As the party was winding down, our host put on a cassette of solo piano music that blew me away. I asked (Ellen) whose music that was and she introduced me to Evan. We immediately hit it off. I suggested that we get together so I could hear all his works. What I heard was beautiful and very different from the derivative "New Age" background music I had expected. I could hear the classical influences in his work as well as the melodic hooks that define his work. He is a master of melodic composition.

We began our voyage with a one-day demo, recording thirteen compositions I chose from his vast collection of material that would six years later realize itself as "Lullaby of Love".

During the years that followed our initial recordings and our lives took different paths, but we always knew we had a mission to finish what we had started. This past year we found ourselves talking about "The" recordings we had made and decided the time was right to bring our work full circle.

I was astounded by Evans improvement as a pianist and I suggested that we should not make just another solo piano record, but make the best most expressive recording we were capable of. I worked with Evan to add even more power and dynamics to his performance at the piano and suggested that we record "Lullaby of Love" as a pure "Audiophile" recording.

"Audiophile" recording process:

Using a matched pair of AKG 3000E condenser microphone fed through a Avalon AD2022 microphone preamp and straight to the digital recorder.

Bypassing the recording console completely and adding neither equalization, compression or artificial reverb to the recording.

Mastering using Sonic Solutions 5.2.1 and a T.C. Electronics (M5000)

The finished product is more than I expected. Evan's playing is powerful and expressive, the recording, so pristine and unforgiving, it has not failed to stir everyone that has heard it.

I hope you will enjoy our labor of love when you hear it.

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