Collage: A Timeless Collection of Medleys is a collection of fifteen medleys beautifully arranged and performed by pianist Danny Wright. Two of the medleys were created specifically for this double-album and the others come from previous releases. This music was chosen to represent music from the greatest love stories from the past several centuries and includes classical music, film music, and some of Wright’s favorite show-tunes. A very popular entertainer in Las Vegas, Danny Wright’s playing style is warm and expressive, and he is not timid about using his very impressive and powerful playing chops - but never to the point of overshadowing the music. A very passionate and accomplished pianist, it is obvious that Wright continues to pour his heart and soul into his music.

Disc One contains medleys that include Phantom of the Opera (three songs), Romance (one of the new medleys), Barbra Streisand, Classical Love Songs (the other new medley), Somewhere In Time, Henry Mancini, The King and I, and Salute to Freedom. All of these tracks are solo piano. Disc Two contains Porgy and Bess, Out of Africa, Les Miserables, Gershwin, Heartland, Variations on Somewhere, and another Phantom medley. All of these are solo piano except “Variations on Somewhere,” which has sound effects and some orchestration. My only criticism is that there are a few songs that appear several times - “Somewhere In Time” appears in three of the medleys, “Rhapsody on the Theme from Paganini” is in back-to-back tracks, and “All I Ask of You” is in both Phantom medleys. I listened to the two discs in the car while driving a distance and have to admit I thought my CD player might be repeating tracks. (Now, if “Summertime” had appeared that often, I would have been euphoric, so it’s a matter of perspective!)

Since this collection is made up of love songs, the mood of the music is smooth and flowing without a lot of surprises. I especially enjoy the new “Classical Love Songs” which is made up of “Fur Elise” and “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” and Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.” The other new grouping, “Romance Medley” is the themes from Love Story, Romeo and Juliet, and Somewhere In Time. No surprises there, but it’s a lovely medley.

Collage will thrill Danny Wright’s many fans and will undoubtedly create new fans of folks looking for solo piano film music and show tunes. It is available from dannywrightpiano.com, Amazon, and iTunes. Check it out!