Feel My Piano is a collection of thirteen original piano solos by Swedish pianist/composer Christian Lindquist. Christian’s first three albums were a series of Solo Piano Diaries released in 2008, 2010 and 2013. The music for all three was created in the moment, often first thing in the morning or late at night, as a means of self-exploration and finding internal truths. I love all three of those albums! I didn’t hear anything from Christian until 2019, when he released More Than Words, an album created with two musician friends. They chose seventeen of the pieces from the three Diaries that would work in a smooth jazz format and gave them new life - another truly outstanding album! Where Lindquist’s first three albums were improvised, the music on Feel My Piano is more composed. Sometimes when the spontaneity is more controlled, a bit of the magic is lost, but that certainly has not happened with this album. Fresh, honest and very beautiful, I have no doubt that this will be one of my favorite albums of 2020.

It is interesting that all of the titles for the thirteen tracks on the album (plus a couple of recent singles) are two words and the first word in all of them is “My.” This isn’t music about material possessions, though. A few examples of the second words are: Change, Country, Friends, etc., so this is still a very personal expression of things that matter most in life.

Feel My Piano opens with “My Piazzolla,” a very peaceful and dreamy piece that sets the reflective tone of the album - a gorgeous beginning! “My Change” has a poignant, slightly bittersweet flavor, as changes often do, and feels much like an intimate conversation with someone very dear. “My Piano” is quite simply a love song that any pianist can easily relate to - I sure can! A place of refuge and discovery, a voice, a friend who is always there, a creative outlet and so much more, our pianos are so much more than hulking pieces furniture! “My River” has a quiet flowing energy that moves with grace and beauty. Not surprisingly, “My Story” seems exceptionally personal, expressing the ups and downs of life. “My Lounge” has a relaxed, easy-going smooth jazz feeling - a welcome massage for the mind and spirit! Wikipedia defines mistral as “a strong, cold, northwesterly wind that blows from southern France into the Gulf of Lion in the northern Mediterranean.” Although “My Mistral” isn’t a stormy piece, it has an energy that never stops moving. “My Friends” expresses the loving warmth we feel with the people who truly care and accept us for who we are. “My Heart” speaks the truth of someone who knows himself well with openness and honesty. “My Finale” brings the album to a heartfelt close, telling a story without words and saying a quiet “so long for now.”

Fans of Christian Lindquist’s previous releases will find a treasure trove in this new album. Those who are new to his music can easily start with Feel My Piano and then work back through his other albums. This is solo piano music at its very best! It is available from Amazon, iTunes/Apple Music, and streaming sites such as Spotify.