Search - Michael Gettel :: San Juan Suite II: Piano Passages (Vol. 2)

Vol 2 is just as good as Vol 1!

Alan R. Holyoak | 05/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I picked up San Juan Suite Vol 1 at the end of a trip to Friday Harbor, WA, and I didn't listen to it until I got home (which is not in the Pacific NW, by the way). My wife and I both thoroughly enjoyed it. So, the next time I made my way back to the PacNW I checked to see if M. Gettel had released any other CDs. Among them was San Juan Suite Vol 2.This CD is every bit as good as Vol 1. The original piano music, again mixed with occasional nature sounds (not overpowered by them the way some new age nature CDs are engineered), is wonderful.The soothing strains of piano are excellent company as I work, read, do art work, or anything when I enjoy background music that complements rather than distracts from what I'm doing.Great CD, highly recommended! 5 stars!Alan Holyoak"

A second voyage to the San Juan islands...

Alan R. Holyoak | 11/14/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a new twist on the original San Juan Suite, complimentary rather than more of the same. Nine wholly new melodies, a reflection of the islands at dawn, day and dusk. Here, Michael is joined by his long-standing band member, Sandin Wilson on fretless bass. The two interact and inter-twine brilliantly, Sandin often carrying the melody as Michael anchors the tune. Clearly, Sandin had much input into the authoring of these melodies, yet receives little by way of liner note credit. Strangely, as with the original San Juan outing, San Juan II is not released on the Narada label. For all its 20-bit mastering origins, however, there's a fair bit of background noise evident amongst the quieter pieces on this album, intruding upon the natural decay and 'space' around the instruments. A nice touch are the ambient sounds captured from the islands, although they can sometimes tend to disrupt an otherwise gentle flow. But a great, relaxed late-night listen all the same."

Essence of the San Juans - on one disk

Alan R. Holyoak | 04/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Refreshingly different than some of his earlier synthesized works, this CD uses sounds of the Northwest waterways with bass and piano that celebrates the San Juan Islands. Having lived in and near these islands for 25 years, no music is a close to capturing the feeling and mood during the stages of the day- twilight, a ferry ride, whales, a contemplative moment-- it's all here and if you can't tell, is my favorite Gettel CD. It's not the standard Gettel, but a work of art unmatched by his other works, and unique. Best shared on a summer evening with a glass of wine."