Sounds From the Wishing Well
Patrick Gorman
2005 / Movements In Glass
39.7 minutes
“Sounds From the Wishing Well” is a stunning debut from pianist/composer Patrick Gorman. Produced by Will Ackerman, the sound quality is flawless and the 9’ Steinway used in the recording has a rich, full-bodied resonance. A self-taught pianist who had not listened to the likes of George Winston or the other major artists of this genre, Gorman’s musical background is that of a drummer. Interesting, no? Gorman’s music has an elegant fluidity and a great range of expressive emotional depth. Ackerman says of the recording session (yes, it was recorded in one session!), “It was one of the most remarkable performances I have had the pleasure to witness.” Heady praise from the founder of Windham Hill Records, a label widely known for the impeccable quality of its recordings (and artists) while Ackerman was at the helm. This is, indeed, an exceptional album.
”Bella” begins the CD with a reflective yet energetic piece
that is a bit on the dark side. An interesting array of musical textures
and themes are interwoven, creating a beautiful montage. “Give Up
the Ghost” is much more delicate and fragile - I love it! “Citrus”
picks up the pace considerably. Its infectious rhythm and Gorman’s
nimble fingers create a bright sparkling piece that swirls and dances.
“Ramah By Moonlight” is one of several pieces that have a Middle-Eastern
influence. Dark and very leisurely in its pace, this piece is sensual
and evocative. As its title implies, “Prism Bell” has a free
rhythm and a sparkling quality that is both gorgeous and as soothing as
watching light bounce off a prism. “Arabian Moonrise” is my
favorite on this album. Mysterious, sultry, and even a little playful,
this one grabs me every time. “Shadowgirl” also has a feeling
of mystery, but also of searching - fascinating. The closing track, “Sleep
Dance,” sounds like a free-form improvisation that works really well
and holds together with repeated listenings.
“Sounds From The Wishing” is an exciting debut, and I hope the first of many recordings from Patrick Gorman. Complex, yet very accessible, I highly recommend this album. It is available from www.patgorman.com and cdbaby.com.
Kathy Parsons
Solo Piano Publications
11/8/05
An Echo from the Future
Composer and pianist Patrick Gorman must have the ability to hear trees growing just by standing in the forest. How can Gorman, with no classical experience, incorporate classical nuances into his music? it is very surprising. Moreover his flair for composition is astonishing. He also has the talent to write heartfelt music like that of George Winston, Liz Story and David Lanz without actually ever hearing George Winston et al.Truth be told, Patrick Gorman has no formal piano training. If he is using the “seek and ye shall find” method, then I promise you it is working. It is working extremely well. His debut solo piano album Sounds from the Wishing Well has an enticing mix of solid classically-tinged tunes and some lighter romantic fare.
Whenever I hear the name Bella, I can’t help but remember the character from What Dreams May Come who anguishes over her loss throughout the film. Gorman’s song Bella has sadness to it, a kind of deep sorrow. The tune is quite memorable and the melody is dizzying in its emotion. I have to admit that just after the first cut, Gorman had me mesmerized.
I liked Fountains right away and it quickly became one of two favorites on Sounds from the Wishing Well. The tune has a dignified flow. Like any good water feature or fountain, the composition shuts out the sounds of the busy world and creates its own music. It was too short for my liking, however.The next cut Ramah by Moonlight was my other favorite. Somewhere in the mountains of southern New Mexico the night is almost shadowy. There is a warm, swirling breeze you can feel in the music. There is the gleam of moon beams on the wind swept rocks and there is the cessation of time as you know it. You can feel your heart pulsate a deep cadence along with this one.Another song about the moon, Arabian Moonrise is notable for Gorman’s odd use of a Middle Eastern theme blended with strong classical overtones. It produces a very imaginative atmosphere as we are swept across the desert and then suddenly we are bathed in a blue-white light. The silhouette of a dark-eyed beauty captures our eyes and our hearts.
First she is there and then she is not. Shadowgirl is a musical poem to a lost love. I have to admit it is a bit moody, but the melody carries a sincere message that she is gone and missed. Finally, Sleep Dance the final cut on Gorman’s CD is a soft, tinkling dreamy piece. Can you imagine a dancer moved by great emotion dancing in a sleep-like state? How graceful is the music and, like our imaginary dancer, there is wondrous control and phrasing. This is Patrick’s best work on the album.
Let’s face it producer Will Ackerman has found a treasure in this young man. Patrick Gorman has wonderful expression and a lot of emotion in his work. He combines a natural ability and an unbiased freshness to his compositions. We look forward to his future endeavors with relish.
R J Lannan, New Age Reporter
www.newagereporter.com
Here is a new artist on the scene, on another new disc produced by Will Ackerman. Patrick Gorman is a drummer by trade, but his brand new "Songs from the Wishing Well" is a superb piano release And the whole CD was recorded in one creatively inspired day, much to Ackerman's own disbelief and amazement. The results are stunning, and each track is fully engaging. The feeling of this CD ranges from whimsical and child-like to complex and overflowing with flurries of well-placed notes. Tempos flow from one to the next, patient and pensive at times, then layered and intricate. The results are a musical world unencumbered by other reference points; instead it is one of Gorman's own sounds exclusively, perhaps with assists from Ackerman strictly in the sound chamber sense. There are classical sounding pieces, some jazzy motifs, and a few tracks that sound, coincidentally, like they might have come from those special heydays of Windham Hill, occupied by names like Winston, Story Cossu, Aaberg and the like. Yet Patrick Gorman is an original, treating the piano like a percussion instrument albeit an amazingly lyrical one.
Lloyde Barde, Backroads Music
www.backroadsmusic.com
"This neo-classical piano album is up to snuff. If you enjoy David
Lanz and Michael Jones, you will find the incredible smooth style and
totally original tunes of Mr. Gorman perfectly satisfying listening. Excellent
debut."
- Rene'e Gelpi, Galaxie CBC.
"Patrick Gorman's music is a welcome return to the pure and elegant
simplicity of the early days of New Age music. Put him in the same class
as Erik Satie, George Winston and Liz Story." - Anne Williams, Nightscapes(r).
www.nightscapes.com
"On Patrick Gorman's debut album he plays solo piano on 12 songs in a style of contemporary classic and new age music. He set out to record this album in one day and he did. It is nothing short of astonishing. Here is a man, who never listened to George Winston, or heard of Liz Story or Keith Jarret, as if a child raised by wolves, yet the quality, the depth of feeling, and the beauty of his music are remarkable. This certainly is a testament to unbounded possibilities present when we approach something unfettered by the past, open to letting "Sound" Spirit flow through.
The producer of this album is Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill Records, and winner of 2004 Grammy for best new age album. Ackerman did not expect anything great from a "drummer [Gorman] moonlighting in piano music." And Ackerman certainly did not believe he could finish the recording in one day. He concludes his words on the CD insert: "It was one of the most remarkable performances I have had the pleasure to witness."
Need I say more? Well, I do like to write, and I am inspired to share this music with others. Recently I have not had an easy time when it comes to meditating. As I write, Sounds From The Wishing Well plays "Citrus," "Saravensara," "Fountains," "Ramah by Moonlight." Tears well up in my eyes, and I find a hand helping me write this review meditatively. At www.patgorman.com