The Journey by Kent Marcum 2004/Amazin’ Blue Publishing Reviewed by Kathy Parsons “The Journey” is a very enjoyable collection of four piano solos, six piano and ensemble pieces, and one vocal track composed and performed by Kent Marcum on piano and keyboards and several other musicians on percussion, guitars, bass, and violin. The music is varied in style, but is mostly upbeat and optimistic. “Photograph Of My Heart” opens the CD with piano and keyboards in something of a soliloquy. Reflective and a little wistful, it’s a lovely beginning! “Midnight Air” is a piano solo that is peaceful but also has a sense of movement. I really like “Falling Waters,” which is piano, rain stick, drums, and keyboard. The piano sparkles and flows like dancing water and never stops moving. Great stuff! The title track is another favorite and has a bigger sound than most of the others. Featuring piano, guitars, drums, and bass, the different themes convey the changing scenery and events on a journey - some are dark, some are exciting, and some are calm. Marcum weaves these changing themes seamlessly. “Dancing In Belfast” is a lively Celtic-flavored duet for piano and violin. “Tell Me When To Start” features the vocals of Michael Grajek, and is a sweetly emotional love song. “As Our Love Begins to Grow” is a gentle and tender ballad that tugs at the heartstrings. “In My Father’s Garden” is a love song of a different type - a memorial and tribute that I can really relate to. A beautiful garden can be so evocative, as this piece clearly demonstrates - a very lovely piece! “As Long As We’re Together” is a joyful love song and a lovely closing to a great album. “The Journey” is available from www.kentmarcummusic.com and www.cdbaby.com. Enjoy! CD available at: cdbaby.comkentmarcummusic.com Kent Marcum's life map takes us from Interlochen Arts Academy in his home state of Michigan to the University of North Texas and back to Michigan in preparing for his journey to Criteria Hit Maker in Miami, Florida, where he enlists multi Grammy winning engineer Eric Schilling to help record his latest CD, The Journey, to be released in October 2004. The Journey is a fitting title for Kent's new CD because it brings together the past and present influences in his life as he explores his journey by sharing with us some of the mysteries and beauty of the instrument he so dearly loves. Kent's evolution as an independent musician can be heard in the passionate style of his music. Kent began playing the piano at age six when his sister dragged him along with her to take piano lessons. His sister quit, but she and Kent's mother would not allow him to quit, hearing and seeing his potential. Kent began his career informally by playing piano at the Rollin Baptist Church in rural Rollin, Michigan. He acquired some of his early improvisational skills playing the four-part hymns in church and improvising over the chord progressions. He began teaching piano himself at the age of thirteen. At sixteen, he was accepted as a student at the Interlochen Arts Academy in northern Michigan where he studied piano with C. Kimberly Kabala along with composition, music theory, and jazz piano. Kent describes Interlochen as "a magical place for artists that words cannot explain." Kent's musical education journey took him next to the University of North Texas where he was heavily influenced by jazz. He studied classical piano there but also explored the world of musical improvisation. He was influenced in his classical studies by the works of Debussy, Schumann, Beethoven, and Bach. He was introduced by his Texas college friends to the music of Eberhard Weber, Andreas Wollenwieder, Michael Hedges, George Winston, Will Ackerman, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Yes and King Crimson. Others who have influenced Kent's taste and style in music are Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Jim Brickman, Hootie and the Blowfish, Jimmy Buffett and the Transiberian Orchestra. His journey in music could be compared to Tennyson's Ulysses when he observed of his own life's journey, "I am a part of all that I have met." Kent continued his formal musical education by taking a graduate assistantship at Eastern Michigan University where he picked up his Master's Degree in Piano Pedagogy. Later, he acquired a teaching certificate through courses he took at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. He has paid his professional dues in many ways through playing with groups such as the art rock cover band Spectrum, in Dallas, Texas, the Big Band/Swing group Al Townsend & the Ambassadors in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a Top 40 /Rock band Sneaker in Jackson, Michigan, and a Top 40/Pop/Jazz group Euphoria in Detroit, Michigan. He has appeared as a solo pianist in various venues in Michigan honing his musical moods and style. His eclectic interests and influences further include Chick Corea, Weather Report, Jeff Lorber, Spyro Gyro, Jan Hammer, Pat Metheny, U2, and various Windham Hill and Narada artists. Kent has split his time between teaching school to finance his musical goals with working on his musical skills and talents which include composing, arranging,choral directing, studio recording, improvising, and accompanying. Kent's music does not fit an easy label because of the journey he has traveled. It is a reflection of where he has been and where he wants to go. It is full of mystery and beauty and wistfulness. We listeners are awakened from meditations on our own pasts to the energy of the present. We experience our own journeys and reflections on life while listening to The Journey. Biography by J&L Bios