Search - Mike Strickland :: Touch The Sky

Touch The Sky
Mike Strickland
Touch The Sky
Genres: New Age, Pop, Soundtracks
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

'Touch The Sky" is an all original solo piano recording. It contains all new compositions with a couple of older compositions re-recorded. This CD is a combination between a piano concert and a soundtrack for a movie. V...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Mike Strickland
Title: Touch The Sky
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: MSP Records
Original Release Date: 12/1/2003
Release Date: 12/1/2003
Genres: New Age, Pop, Soundtracks
Styles: Instrumental, Easy Listening
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 829757456126

Synopsis

Album Description
'Touch The Sky" is an all original solo piano recording. It contains all new compositions with a couple of older compositions re-recorded. This CD is a combination between a piano concert and a soundtrack for a movie. Very engaging, entertaining, and relaxing. The song titles are: 'The Circus Waltz', 'Touch The Sky', 'Skipping Along', 'My True Love', 'The Emporers Return', 'Diane's Theme', 'A Promise For Romance', 'Pretty Money', 'Little Song', and 'I Can Fly'.

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CD Reviews

From MainlyPiano.com
Kathy Parsons | Florence, OR United States | 08/01/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

""Touch the Sky" is Mike Strickland's fifth release of all-original music and his second solo piano release of original compositions. Mixing jazz, pop, and classical influences with his incredible playing technique, Strickland's playing sounds effortless and fluid. With the goal of soothing and uplifting his listeners, Strickland presents a less troubled musical world full of positives without giving us ear-candy. There is plenty of substance as well as style in Strickland's playing, occasionally bringing to mind Kevin Kern, although Kern rarely records unaccompanied.



The title track opens the CD with a sparkling and energetic piece that never stops moving. It skips and soars, always searching, dancing throughout. This is obviously not an everyday pianist, but someone who has spent a lifetime absorbing life and expressing it in music and with his piano. "I Can Fly" is a bit more abstract, but floats as if on a cloud, feeling gentle breezes and the freedom of flight. "Promise For Romance" is more of a smooth jazz piece, with its 5/4 time signature and spontaneous flow. "Circus Waltz" is a favorite. There is a Russian influence is this minor-key waltz that doesn't take itself very seriously. Strickland plans to make this piece part of a suite with various characters - should be fun! "Lullaby for the Rain" is another favorite - somewhat darker and more melancholy, it has an elegant, graceful flow - I hope it becomes available in sheet music! "Pretty Money" is a piece Strickland's daughter named when she was five. Playful and whimsical, this piece could also fit easily into a musical or movie. I also really like "The French Cafe Revisited," a charming piece that tells a bittersweet story with or without lyrics.



"Touch the Sky" is my first experience with Mike Strickland's music, and I eagerly look forward to hearing more and seeing him in concert before long. This is a great album for those who love solo piano in all its glory, with a bit of showmanship, and a lot of heart."