Russian Piano Album is a 36-minute "symphony for one instrument" by pianist/ composer/violinist/ singer/ conductor An Vedi (whew!). Recorded in one session on a 40-year-old Lyrica upright piano, the ten original piano solos are "epic pictures" of nature and the people of An Vedi's Russian homeland. The music varies from track to track and the album is listed as "modern classical" and "new age." A very prolific and versatile artist, I last reviewed An Vedi's The Untuned Piano in 2020. She has released a very impressive body of work since then and has received an equally-impressive number of prestigious awards and nominations, including a 2024 Grammy® nomination for her participation in Antonio Vergara's album, The Fury. An Vedi graduated from the Moscow Conservatory along with post-graduate studies with honors and has been performing for more than 25 years.

Russian Piano Album begins with "Dark Times," a prelude that evokes images of sadness and suffering. It begins quietly and mournfully, gradually building intensity with a powerful and very dark piano bass, sometimes venturing high into the treble end of the keyboard - a very dramatic opening! "Dawn Over Siberia" starts with the promise and light of a new day, changing to the harsh winter climate and then returning to the lighter, more optimistic tone of the first half of the piece. "Long Rain Outside" has a relaxed, expressive tempo and motifs that recall the music of Claude Debussy. This is not a heavy, stormy downpour, but a gentle rain that inspires daydreams while gazing out a window. "Dance of Lights" was inspired by a visit to the Atashgah Zoroastrian Fire Temple in Azerbaijan in May 2024. From powerful and dramatic to light and graceful, it's a very descriptive piece! "Bright Times"is something of a response to the first track, "Dark Times." It incorporates hints of the melody from Mozart's Violin Concerto #5, and I would say that the tone of the piece is more relaxed and peaceful than joyous and lighthearted. Some of the middle section is actually on the darker side before it returns to a variation of the first theme. I really like An Vedi's description of "In the Night Winter Forest," which tells quite a descriptive tale: "The big gap in the range at the beginning is an image of huge snow-covered trees. The steady rhythm emphasizes the even steps on the deep snow. In the second half there is a climax - a snowstorm. And then again a lull." "A Merry Holiday (A Fair)" effectively weaves together two very different themes - one that is big and joyful and one that is much quieter and more subdued. One of my favorite tracks is "At the Crossroads," which is dedicated to Sergei Rachmaninoff, a musical artist who became a symbol of the transition from one era to another. Often very dark and ominous, a fascinating story is told via changing themes and powerful emotional expression. "A Song and a Choir of Women" conveys "light sadness" with variations on a "pseudo-folk melody." An Vedi introduces the last piece, "Apotheosis," as "like a patchwork quilt, full of melodies, both new and those already heard in other tracks." Some of the themes jump out as being familiar, but they are combined in such a way that they create a brand new piece that is often bright and lively - playful, even! It's a great close to a fascinating album!

Russian Piano Album is suggested for those with a more adventurous ear and enjoy a unique musical voice. The album is available from Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes as well as many streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora.