“Autumn Walk” is the orchestrated version of pianist/composer Brad Jacobsen’s most popular piece. Jacobsen originally recorded the solo piece at Joe Bongiorno’s Piano Haven studio when it was in Kenmore, WA, and decided he wanted to record it again on Joe’s Shirgeru Kawai grand in Sedona, AZ and then add some orchestration. Jacobsen collaborated with Doug Hammer on the orchestral arrangements, and the results are gorgeous and deeply emotional. The piano is still in the lead, but the strings and other instruments enhance the emotional quality of the piece and send it soaring.

Brad Jacobsen told me recently that “Autumn Walk” has multiple meanings. There is the literal one (going for a walk in the fall) and the metaphorical one which is reflecting on cherished memories and how quickly time passes. To underscore the second meaning, the cover artwork for the single contains images of postcards Brad and his wife found at a local antique store, some of which were originally mailed five or six decades ago and that contain beautiful handwritten messages. The orchestration was designed to express feelings of reflection and nostalgia and succeeds exceptionally well.

If you love the original version of “Autumn Walk,” just wait until you hear the new arrangement! If you haven’t heard it before, you are really in for a treat! It is available from Amazon and iTunes. Very highly recommended!