Sequiota

I have always been affected by beautiful chord progressions and melodies. Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 is a prime example of this: When I first heard it, I was literally moved to tears! The same goes for "Diamond Dust," the first tune on this album. It's hard to say what specific elements result in this kind of affect on the listener. I like to think the music provides analogs that our minds somehow key into on an emotional level. All of the songs on this album have special moments that can have this cathartic affect on me, and I hope on you as well. I should explain that I use the term "songs" loosely here. Some of the "songs" featured on this album are actually instrumental works that I like to think of as songs without words. If you prefer, you might think of the album as a collection of songs with instrumental interludes in between.

The first track, "Diamond Dust," a piece written by jazz artist and composer Bernie Holland, has been a favorite of mine ever since I first heard it on Jeff Beck's album "Blow by Blow." While Jeff Beck's rendition features virtuoso guitar melodies on top of the piano arpeggios, I've always felt that the piano part could stand strongly on its own. Add some strings, and the effect is sublime. "Forever and a Day" was originally titled "Today" when I first wrote it in high school in Seoul, Korea back in 1983. It's a song about young love and innocent dreams of the future. "While We're Here" is a tune I wrote back in 1983 and dedicated to the late jazz pianist Bill Evans. "Celebration (Waves of Love)" is an instrumental piece I wrote in 1994 that features smooth, legato "waves" of 16th notes undulating and modulating through an emotional journey I hope you'll enjoy. "Dreaming of You" is a song I wrote in 1987 about young love and the difficulties of living apart due to life's twists and turns. "Dressing Room Song" is a jazz piano piece that's always been one of my favorites. It was written by Michael Gore and was featured in the 1980 movie "Fame." I wrote "Flame of Love" shortly after September 11th, 2001. The title is a reference to the candle-light vigils that were held after the tragic incident. "Sequiota" is a Native American word that means "many springs." It's also the name of my favorite park in Springfield, Missouri. I think the name has wonderful connotations in terms of spiritual and emotional renewal. I co-wrote "The Sound of my Broken Heart" with a friend I met at a coffee house in Springfield. Tammy Crosby had heard me perform some of my original compositions at an open mic night, and asked if I'd be willing to work with her on refining some of her song ideas. The story, verse, and chorus melodies were hers, while I helped polish it all up and add a jazz-influenced bridge. I conceived bits and pieces of "Memories of You" back in 1984, and have been reworking and refining it ever since. I'm pleased with its current state on this album, and I hope you are, too.

The musical journey is never-ending. Thanks for traveling this leg of the journey with me.

Ben Garen
July, 2012