Notes: 'Islands in My Mind' (4 Feb. 2016 CDrelease) If you enjoy classical fusion keyboard playing (recalling the classical fusion of great 70s players like Rick Wakeman & Keith Emerson) with modern jazz & ethnic New Age influences this eCD is for you. This 12-track eCD takes experienced New Age-Jazz keyboard performance to the next level embracing both piano and digital instrument sounds, all done by one soloist. Since 1984 composer/pianist Michael Guy has played and recorded solo keyboard improvisations (with no ensemble) in 1 or a few takes as 'live' studio recordings (no audience but no overdubs). Some of these takes were done in private recitals for a few persons. Every track on this CD has been done as a through take with NO USE OF COMPUTERS, or overdubbing. Only in 'post-production' was 'Audacity Software' used to do a little post-recording editing, (mostly beginning intros and transitional sections.) The full orchestral style of digital keyboard playing features piano but many times dual-layered with other digital sounds. There are world ethnic influences, notably Celtic (as in Track#s 1 & 10). HIs long-standing jazz influence going back into the 70's & 80s is evident on the boppish upbeat melodies with comp'ed chords in Track#2's 'Wave-Hopping'. Large unfolding but structurally formed composition/improvs build in orchestral climax and lead to new material such as in the 3-part Suite “The Good Road & The Road of Difficulties” which ends in Part 3(a separate track) on a serene and positively beautiful variation on one his ca. 1983 songs called “A Song of the Open Road” (yes, originally based on Walt Whitman’s stirring poem about the travels of young manhood. A 2012 series of recordings done in small recitals between 2010-2012 was to be called 'Crossing Unknown Waters' - as it was never released, 2 great and big song improvs from that work are included here, blending into the other 10 'ocean-island' related themed tracks. The very classical piano full piano style of 'CROSSING UNKNOWN WATERS' and the big improv Hymn/Anthem titled 'HYMN TO THE FARTHER SHORE' which has such an intense solo piano climax and variations on one of the song themes featured on his debut CD from 2008: 'AUGUST OCEAN OVERTURE'. The 'Islands' themed tracks were mostly recorded in two separate sessions in August 2014 and October; they again depict his love the Sea and the ongoing theme of isolation and a shipwrecked aloneness (such as 'Out of Exile'). It is a theme he has used on his debut CD and reveals his sense of isolation from society's current obsessions with materialism, change by violence, and disrespect for nature. This music embraces both his love of Nature and his humility before the ongoing changes she will inevitably bring upon us. Michael Guy played in public in his 30's in the Northeast and in New York while working in the music business and pursuing his love of jazz in New York City is now 61 and partly but undeservedly in 'retirement’. He lives in a remote area but hopes with the latest technology and his current interest of writing for orchestra and other ensembles to re-emerge from this retirement. His continued interest in different fusions of classical piano, jazz, New Age and Eastern & Ethnic influences, all done as extended solo keyboard forms, reflects his lifelong interest in music composition and piano playing since his beginnings in the early 1970s. A NEW CD entitled LABYRINTH OF TIME recorded in 2015 will eventually follow this release and will have a physical CD with it. He’s hoping to involved 'real' string players on some of his 'classically scored pieces for strings and piano. This material will be added in the near future. The last 2 tracks on this CD: 'Letter Never Sent' & 'Ray of Hope' were recorded in November 2014 for a podcast spot live on Sunday mornings, that he broadcast as 'Sunday Morning Alone.' They are released here on this CD with the hope that they will get more exposure.