Imagining is the sixth album from pianist/composer Alan Matthews - a series that started with his 2017 debut, The Ineffable. All thirteen tracks on the album are original piano solos that provide a surreal musical journey into the “what if?” as seen through a child’s eyes. Lyrical and dreamy, I find the album to be soothing and relaxing as well as very beautiful. Alan’s music has been very enthusiastically endorsed by Will Ackerman, who produced and recorded Alan’s first three albums - high praise, indeed! I have thoroughly enjoyed reviewing all six of Alan’s albums, and this one is no exception!

Imagining begins with the title track, a light and carefree ode to joy that overflows with sunshine and optimism. Alan very effectively uses the dampers on the piano to create a shimmering atmospheric effect. “Through Child’s Eyes” casts a magical glow with warm feelings of innocence and honesty. “Angels Fly Away” has both hands playing in the upper octaves of the piano for much of the piece, giving it a light, sunny feeling. Several places have a lovely “fluttering” sound, that I interpret as angel wings taking flight. “Now Is Forever” is a favorite with its easy, relaxed flow and gentle melody. “If Wishing Made It So” feels like how I imagine floating on a fluffy white cloud would feel - warm, sunny, safe and soothing. Using the damper pedal and freely expressive timing, Alan creates an ethereal glow on “Divine Light.” “One Way Life” is another favorite with its sense of reassurance coupled with just a touch of magic. Most of “Standing Still” seems to be rooted in a specific smaller range on the piano keyboard, not moving to the outer reaches of the keys - mostly “standing” in one place and then trailing off at the end. “Dodging Clouds” could be a fun game or a metaphor for avoiding bad times. “Hiding in the Sun” follows, and is more subdued and poignant - another favorite! I love the open-hearted sincerity in this one! The repeating motif in “Open Ocean” is almost as hypnotic as the rhythms of the ocean itself - especially when beams of sunlight are dancing on the surface of the water. Love it! “In a Million Years” could be a fantasy told to a small child in storybook form or from the storyteller’s own imagination. Either way, the story is peaceful and dreamy, and I hope it doesn’t take a million years to get there! Imagining closes with the very appropriately-titled “Just a Dream,” a freely-paced soliloquy of sorts that feels just a bit disappointed that the beautiful ideas and stories within Imagining weren’t real. Oh well, the music is wonderful and takes us on a beautiful excursion any time we want. Lucky us!

Imagining is available to stream and download on Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes as well as on many streaming platforms including Spotify, Pandora and Bandcamp. Don’t miss it!