Chad Lawson has been one of my favorite pianists for many years. When I first saw him play live in 2011, his velvety piano touch literally stopped me in my tracks. More than proficient in many genres of music, it is with his own breathtaking compositions that Lawson truly shines the brightest. Never one to show off with a lot of bravado or fancy finger work, Lawson’s goal with his music is to provide a peaceful respite where people can breathe. “If you listen to any of my albums, they all revolve around the idea of stillness,” he says. “I’m just trying to invite people to take a moment and reconnect with who they are. The music I make is meant to create calm.” “Waltz in B Minor” is a beautiful and compelling example of this. Closer to Chopin than Strauss, the piece is slow, poignant and very expressive. I think it would be appropriate to call it an exquisite gem of contemporary classical music.