November is the nineteenth album from pianist/composer/producer Doug Hammer and what a beauty it is! The thirteen original piano solos started taking shape in November 2021 and were set aside until this past summer when Doug revisited them and was inspired to finish and record them. The music takes us through the month of November in New England, as the days grow darker and colder and the first snow falls. It also includes the welcome surprise of a warm Indian Summer before winter sets in. Most of the tracks on November are the quieter, more pensive side, but things heat up or intensify on several pieces. As usual, there is a very nice bit of non-verbal storytelling that runs throughout the album. I have been a huge fan of Doug Hammer and his music since his 2007 debut, Solace, and have always been amazed at his versatility as a musician as well as a composer.

The official trailer/video for November shows the tree pictured on the cover artwork as it transitions from being in full-leaf to turning fall colors and then losing its leaves as the title track plays behind it. Doug's wife, Emmanuelle Le Gal, did the cover artwork.

November begins with the title track, a very slow, open piece where the spaces between the notes are almost as important as the notes themselves. The relaxed pace and peaceful spirit of the music give it a gently hypnotic feeling. "Colder" is also very spare, but with much of it played in the upper octaves of the piano with a very steady tempo, it actually feels crisp and even a bit icy. Watching a sunset can be a very calming experience, as Doug expresses in "The Setting Sun." Near the end, the music intensifies as the sky becomes fiery, and then fades - a favorite! "Glimmer of Light" begins very delicately at the upper end of the piano, gradually working its way down into the "normal" playing range of the keyboard, building as it goes and quieting to the end. "Dancing Leaves" has a bright, swirling feeling that is joyful and in constant motion. "Bare Trees" is another favorite. Very still, but deeply emotional, it seems to express loss and sadness - or perhaps it is resignation that winter is coming. The tempo picks up considerably in "A Cold Wind Blows" and becomes very intense and dramatic in the middle before easing to the end. "First Snowfall" expresses the profound quiet of snow falling as well as the crystalline chill in the air - magical! "So Bright" begins very quietly with a repeated motif that runs throughout the piece, building intensity to a very "big" and powerful level before tapering off to a whisper. On the west coast, Indian Summer is an unexpected heat wave in the fall, and I assume it means the same thing on the east coast. The first couple of minutes of the piece called "Indian Summer" are calm and peaceful, but in the middle it becomes very bright and intense and then fades. "Radiance" could refer to a number of things, but the bright fall colors and leaves swirling in the wind are what come to mind in this joyful and dramatic piece. Thanksgiving is a time of reflection on people and events we are grateful for in our lives as well as a day of sharing a big meal with loved ones, and Doug's piece called "Thanksgiving" expresses that with warmth and sincerity. The album comes to a close with "Frozen Ground," and returns to a feeling of stillness and beauty - another great album from Doug Hammer! I can't wait for the sheet music!

November is available from Doug's website, Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes and many streaming services including Pandora and Spotify. Very highly recommended!