If you gently and gracefully stir equal parts of classical and new age music and sprinkle it with melancholy moods then this would be the essential ingredients needed to spend an hour in the musical world of pianist Craig Urquhart. Within Memory represents his seventh solo piano album and much like its prior recordings Craig continues to present his unique meditative musical compositions that are not immediately gratifying but nevertheless richly rewarding. That said, without compromising his unique style Within Memory may be Craig’s most accessible album to date.

The disc opens with the rather playful and open “In The Afternoon” and similar moods can be on found “Rapture” “October Bright Blue”. Sprinkled and well sequenced throughout the album they peacefully coexist with the more demanding compositions such as the lengthy and moody “Low Tide” or the plaintive “Before The Canvas” more in line with what we have come to expect from Craig. And then there is the standalone track “Laid Back” that fits neither of the above camps that has an underlying jazz ambience to it that only leaves you craving for more.

Equally confident in classical, new age and jazz settings, this piano man not only plays but softly caresses his songs and continues to create music that is enduring instead of being immediately satisfying. In a world that demands instant gratification Craig Urquhart may never be a huge commercial success. But Craig has always marched to his own uncompromising drum which only makes Within Memory another impressive addition to his ever growing repertoire.