Solo Journey
Encyclopedia
Solo Journey is Bradley Joseph
's third album (see 1999 in music
), and first album on his own record label
, Robbins Island Music.
label and admitting it was a great experience music-wise, Joseph didn't like the lack of control over the end product, and asked to be released from his contract. He started Robbins Island Music in 1998, composing, producing, and distributing his own recordings. Hence, Solo Journey was released in 1999, composed of eleven soft piano compositions. While Joseph's first two releases, Hear the Masses
and Rapture
, employ mainly orchestral compositions and arrangements, this album features Joseph on soft solo piano and is characterized as being a "scaled down introspective, ... and while simplistic was still breath-taking", by Michael Debbage of Wind and Wire Magazine. Joseph's goal for this album was to provide an "intimate and peaceful environment for the special times we all encounter in our lives". Reviewing for Solo Piano Publications, Kathy Parsons calls it a "beautiful musical excursion", "...inviting the listener to kick back and relax for a while"; although, as a piano teacher, she opined that "most of the piano parts sound electronic", stating, "As good as the electronic pianos have gotten, they lack the warmth and richness of a great acoustic grand."
Parsons observes that "The Long, Last Mile" starts out with a bittersweet melody, and then builds in intensity and complexity with cello, winds, and ethereal sounds intertwining around the piano. Then it breaks off, and the opening melody returns. She describes "Winter Moon" as a simple, straightforward melody with a gentle rhythm; and "The Poetry Room" as almost minimalist in its simplicity, "also very beautiful". She goes on to say, "'The First Snow' gently describes the quiet but dazzling splendor of the first snow of the season. Joseph makes effective use of arpeggiated chords in the upper registers to depict the light dancing in sparkles.
In 2003, Joseph released a sequel to this album, The Journey Continues.
Bradley Joseph
Bradley Joseph is an American composer, arranger, and producer of contemporary instrumental music. His compositions include works for orchestra, quartet, and solo piano, while his musical style ranges from "quietly pensive mood music to a rich orchestration of classical depth and breadth".Active...
's third album (see 1999 in music
1999 in music
-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
), and first album on his own record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Robbins Island Music.
History
Having previously recorded on the NaradaNarada Productions
Narada is a record label formed 1983 as an independent New Age music label and distributed by MCA Records. Now a fully owned subsidiary of EMI, Narada evolved through an expansion of formats to include music from other styles including world music, jazz, Celtic music, new flamenco, acoustic guitar...
label and admitting it was a great experience music-wise, Joseph didn't like the lack of control over the end product, and asked to be released from his contract. He started Robbins Island Music in 1998, composing, producing, and distributing his own recordings. Hence, Solo Journey was released in 1999, composed of eleven soft piano compositions. While Joseph's first two releases, Hear the Masses
Hear The Masses
Hear the Masses is the debut album by Bradley Joseph, , a self-produced and self-published release consisting of 10 original instrumental compositions ranging from upbeat piano to orchestral ballads....
and Rapture
Rapture (Bradley Joseph album)
Rapture is the second album by Bradley Joseph, and his debut album on the Narada label, released in March 1997 . This is an instrumental album in which Joseph wrote and conducted all of the scores. In addition to incorporating a core band including violinist Charlie Bisharat and drummer Charlie...
, employ mainly orchestral compositions and arrangements, this album features Joseph on soft solo piano and is characterized as being a "scaled down introspective, ... and while simplistic was still breath-taking", by Michael Debbage of Wind and Wire Magazine. Joseph's goal for this album was to provide an "intimate and peaceful environment for the special times we all encounter in our lives". Reviewing for Solo Piano Publications, Kathy Parsons calls it a "beautiful musical excursion", "...inviting the listener to kick back and relax for a while"; although, as a piano teacher, she opined that "most of the piano parts sound electronic", stating, "As good as the electronic pianos have gotten, they lack the warmth and richness of a great acoustic grand."
Parsons observes that "The Long, Last Mile" starts out with a bittersweet melody, and then builds in intensity and complexity with cello, winds, and ethereal sounds intertwining around the piano. Then it breaks off, and the opening melody returns. She describes "Winter Moon" as a simple, straightforward melody with a gentle rhythm; and "The Poetry Room" as almost minimalist in its simplicity, "also very beautiful". She goes on to say, "'The First Snow' gently describes the quiet but dazzling splendor of the first snow of the season. Joseph makes effective use of arpeggiated chords in the upper registers to depict the light dancing in sparkles.
In 2003, Joseph released a sequel to this album, The Journey Continues.
Track listing
- "Winter Moon" – 3:58
- "Yesterday Is But A Dream" – 3:21
- "The Poetry Room" – 3:20
- "Letters From Home" – 2:30
- "A Summer's Story" – 3:41
- "The Long, Last Mile" – 4:05
- "October Forest" – 5:15
- "The First Snow" – 2:10
- "Season's End" – 5:08
- "Wind Farmer (piano version)" – 4:15
- "Love Remains" – 1:58
Personnel
- All music composedComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, produced, performed by Bradley JosephBradley JosephBradley Joseph is an American composer, arranger, and producer of contemporary instrumental music. His compositions include works for orchestra, quartet, and solo piano, while his musical style ranges from "quietly pensive mood music to a rich orchestration of classical depth and breadth".Active...
.
- Art and Design – Tony Horning
- Portrait Photography – Buck Holzemer
Sheet Music
Joseph has published sheet music for all eleven compositions from Solo Journey ranging from easy/intermediate to intermediate/advanced, with some compositions transposed to easier key signatures. Transcribed by Steve Trochlil.External links
- Official Website
- [ Solo Journey] at Allmusic
- Solo Journey at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Solo Journey at Last.fmLast.fmLast.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....