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‘Simple Gifts’ new album by Catherine Marie Charlton in Peaceful Radio Show 1521

21 December 2022 Artists

Scroll down and click on photo for Catherine’s website.

 

 

Watching a drifting snowfall, warm family gatherings, singing
carols: we dream of peace and joy during the holidays and the
stillness of Winter. In Catherine Marie Charlton’s first solo
piano recording in a decade, Simple Gifts: Solo Piano for the
Holidays [release date November 11, 2022], the Steinway
Artist counters this idealistic view of the season and
musically mirrors our full range of emotions and experiences.
She begins with a flowing modal dream (“Greensleeves”), and
juxtaposes meditative musings (“Jeannette, Isabella”) and
prayers of peace (“Dona Nobis Pacem”) with a virtuosic,
harmonically complex “Ukrainian Bell Carol” singing of war,
and a dissonant, deep and mournful yet prayerful “ ‘Round
Midnight” addressing urban gun violence [recorded by the
pianist in response to the murder of a promising 18-year old
cellist during #BlackLivesMatter protests in June 2020
“about 12 a.m.” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer].
Through the immediacy of Charlton’s piano improvisations
we are reminded to live in the moment, full of gratitude and
cherishing the Simple Gifts of life.

TRACK LISTING

1.Greensleeves 2:52
2.Christmas Time Is Here 2:21
3. UkrainianBellCarol 4:04
4.OHoly Night 2:35
5. Jeannette,Isabella 3:33
6. Simple Gifts 2:35
7.We ThreeKings 1:57
8. ‘RoundMidnight 4:02
9. Dona Nobis Pacem 3:37

CREDITS

Catherine Marie Charlton, pianist, arranger on all tracks
Produced by Catherine Marie Charlton
Art Direction: Catherine Marie Charlton
Artwork and Design: Charles G Sheely
Recording Engineer: Catherine Marie Charlton
Mastering Engineer: Phil Nicolo

Available on all streaming platforms

At pianist & composer Catherine Marie Charlton’s first solo concert thirty years ago, a woman in the audience
was so moved that she sent flowers with a note, “Only once before in my life has another pianist brought tears to
my eyes.” Adds Catherine, “Ever since, I have striven to recreate the full range of human emotions through my
piano improvisations, and to touch listeners’ hearts through my own vulnerability expressed through music.”
Simple Gifts: Solo Piano for the Holidays marks the thirteenth album in Charlton’s recording career. The New
York City Jazz Record and AXS say of CMC’s piano improvisations: “her crystalline style…soars…”, and she “rises
above labels… to reach into the listener’s soul….” Observer calls I Dream About This World: the Wyeth Album“a
calming meditative sound journey akin to the finest titles on Windham Hill.”
Discography highlights include Red Leaf, Grey Sky (winner, Independent Music Awards for
“Instrumental EP” and ZMR “Best Instrumental Album—Piano”); fan-favorite for twenty years, River Dawn:
Piano Meditations, an epic one-take 60-minute improvisation and its follow-up River Flow, recorded late at
night while her family slept (winner Parents’ Choice “Silver Honor” and nominated ZMR “Best
Relaxation/Meditation Album”); and Spotted Peccary collaboration with Carl Weingarten, Where There is Light
(nominated ZMR “Best Ambient Album”).
Catherine Marie Charlton is a Steinway Artist and currently a Governor of the Philadelphia chapter of The
Recording Academy. She also serves as Executive Director of Musicopia and Dancing Classrooms Philly, arts
education organizations serving over 20,000 students per year.

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