Back in 2005, Loren Gold released his sophomore effort Keys that was smothered in Smooth Jazz gentle laced in New Age nuances. The format was quite the opposite on his sometimes overlooked 2001 debut All Around Me as Gold’s musical winning combination was a New Age album adorned with underlying Smooth Jazz textures. It also represents one of Gemini Sun Records earliest releases.

Needless to say, All Around Me immediately displays all the ingredients of Loren Gold courtesy of the opening track “Cascade”. The song centers on Gold’s smooth and fluid keyboard work driven by a malleable but rhythmic percussion pattern embellished by Nicholas Gunn’s magical flute work. Similar themes are explored on the smoldering “Midnight Blue” that also features Rodney Taylor on saxophone.

In contrast, there is the soft ballerina ballad “Falling” which has a more simplistic approach also reflected on the compellingly and evocative title track that is doused in soft synthesized strings. The majority of the album explores these themes courtesy of the supple pitter patter of “Snow” which once again features Gunn on the flute. Better yet, skip forward to the mystical “Sounds Of The Mersey” where the wind instrumentation sounds more like a penny whistle than a flute, adding a sense of mysticism to the song. With a continued emphasis in the reflective versus the rhythmic, the album closes out on the bare and stripped down “Until Tomorrow” where it is merely Gold and his piano tenderly concluding this overall more sensitive and thoughtful album.

Loren Gold continues to be deeply tied to the pop industry as a studio musician and also a writer recently exhibited by his co penned Taylor Hicks hit “The Runaround”. This is where both Keys and All Around Me intersect using memorable melodies that are easily accessible whether the preference is Smooth Jazz or New Age instrumentation.

CD available at:
amazon.com
geminisunrecords.com
lorengold.com

For those of you who enjoyed the soft and uncomplicated instrumental excursion of All Around Me, get ready to change gears. Though smothered in the Smooth Jazz clichés, Keys has a decidedly warm and organic feel to it, encapsulating the spirit of David Koz’ 1996 Off The Beaten Path.

So let’s cut to the chase and direct the fans of All Around Me and skip to track 5 and listen to the magical memorable melody of “This Moment”. Embellished by the passionate saxophone of Mindi Abair, Loren’s composition will leave you enjoying, for the lack of a better phrase, the moment. Perhaps the lazy “Sunny Slide” and the jazzy keyboards of Loren Gold will appeal to you. Along with the impressive jazz fills of drummer Ron Wikso formerly of rock groups Foreigner and The Storm, the adaptability of this percussionist is just as impressive.

Here and in between we find the pizzazz jazz of Gold, such as the groovy rhythmic opening track “On Solid Ground” that is countered by Gold’s flighty keyboard work. Something more unique can be discovered courtesy of the flamenco feel of “4 My Baby”. The song title may not be very profound but quite the contrary musically, as Loren’s keyboards contrast effectively with the guitar work of Jaime Bonk, sending us on an excursion to the exotica.

However, the best is yet to come as the album concludes with two most palatable compositions. The first comes in the form of the piano layered “A Song For You” sweetly embellished by the cello work of Mike Beert. Even better is the finale, courtesy of the appropriately titled “Saying Goodbye”. This haunting tear jerker will overwhelm you with its passionate string arrangement along with the eloquent flute work of Nicholas Gunn.

Though there are several songs that will capture his All Around Me audience, Keys is definitely a further extension of Gold’s musical boundaries. A major key is that he is equally adept at composing, arranging and producing that one can only expect a bright future for this artist.

CD available at:
amazon.com
geminisunrecords.com
lorengold.com