Now playing on over 100 NPR stations nationwide, Sharon West's inspiring instrumentals blend contemporary and classic influences for a refreshing listening experience. This music imbues listeners with a sense of wonder and inner fulfillment through a delightful blend of piano, strings, guitar, flutes, cello, keyboards, choir voices and percussion. Album Reviews "Sharon West's instrumental album "Canvas of my Soul" is much more than a relaxing soundtrack to help listeners unwind after a long week. Rather, with songs as insightful as classic literature and with beauty as striking as a treasured painting, West proves her ability to transcend the boundaries of a traditional musician. Just like the title suggests, "The Sculptor's Dream" takes listeners on a trip through the mind of a sculptor as she molds humanity out of clay. The mood changes from heavenly to ominous to other-worldly in a minute and fifteen seconds; from confusion, to elation, to relaxed, every emotion is felt in this wonderfully complex tune. The tone is constantly changing, just as each person evolves throughout his or her life. From classy piano to jazzy sax, and even upbeat drumming, West creates a perfect depiction of the human experience. Taking on a much slower pace, "Shores of Time" also takes readers to a calm, desolate beach at sunset as they can imagine themselves watching the peaceful waves crash into the shore and glide back out into the sea again, only to repeat the motion all night. The song even allows listeners to become the sea, feeling themselves float back and forth between who they are today, and who they were yesterday. With the sweet violin serenading through this harmonious bedtime story, it also leaves time for contemplation about who to become tomorrow. Another highlight of the album, "Day's Joy," includes a synthesizer melody that plays straight to the soul. Here, listeners get the sense that they are still near the sea, gazing at its wonders, but what's different about this song is that it has the power to turn the focus inward—to analyze the very depths of one's being. And this, undeniably, is a talent so amazing it can only be attributed to a true musician. Through "Canvas of My Soul," Sharon West makes it clear that she has a brilliant understanding of not only music, but also of nature and the human mind." - Liz Singer, HotIndieNews.com, Nov. 14, 2008 "New Age meets pop and jazz in this introspective yet often ebullient collection of tone poems. A wide variety of synthesized "colors" are represented here. Each cut exhibits its own distinctive aura and creates its own ambience. I would not describe it as "ambient music" because there are so many interesting elements in it which pull the listener towards it and lift the music from the background. Especially notable is the title cut. Here is a CD that takes "ambient music" to new heights!" - Mark Maxwell Abushady, Creations Magazine, Holidays Issue Dec-Jan. 2006 "The music that Sharon West has composed and performed in this album is of a melodic romantic style. All the pieces are warm, bright. The CD in general could be labeled as innovative New Instrumental Music. By means of a very successfully achieved virtual orchestra mostly based on synthesizers, the artist weaves a collection of fresh pieces, where Classical and also Pop elements, besides some ethereal atmospheres, also appear." Hector Jordan, Amazing Sounds, February 2005 " West has been a good student of film composers and sound scape artists and has learned her lessons well. Nicely moving set that seems a better soundtrack for walking in the park than yoga, this is first class contemporary, home made pop." Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap , February 2005 "Originally intended as a meditation album, 'Canvas of My Soul' instead morphed into a more engrained into your psyche experience that while ambient isn't something you'll hear in the local mall New Age store. Her playing is great and bubbles with delightful melodies making this a very special album indeed." J-Sin, Editor, Smother.net "Canvas of My Soul" was an Editor's Pick, January 2005 "Clearly, West is talented...Many songs showed fine synth effects and approaches as well as creativity....The ideas and themes of the songs are beautiful....A nice album - fine listening of peppy New Age music....Recommended for those who love synthesized sounds." A. Canales, The Critical Review, January 2005