Philippine Dreams is an eleven-track solo piano album by James Michael Stevens. All of the pieces were composed and recorded while James and his wife were visiting The Philippines this past summer, and it is very apparent in the music that it was a very relaxing and inspiring trip. The results are some of the most beautiful music James has released on his many, many albums. He also sent me a list of what inspired each piece, so I’ll be sharing that as I go through the tracks.

Philippine Dreams begins with “Sampaguita,” a kind of jasmine and the national flower of The Philippines. It symbolizes purity, simplicity, humility, and strength, and like the flower, the music is delicate, sweet and uncomplicated. “Dreams Alcala” refers to James’ wife’s hometown, which is where they stayed for most of their trip. Smooth and relaxed with an easy flow, it’s a beautiful tribute. “Silent Ballerina” is the only piece on the album that wasn’t directly inspired by The Philippines. This one was inspired by a story James read while he was there regarding Princess Kate and how she was dealing with the emotional recovery and therapy from her cancer by doing ballet with her daughter. “Serenity Falls” expresses the peaceful feelings of being by the many waterfalls in The Philippines. Graceful and in constant motion, I can almost feel the spray of water on my face! James describes “Ambient Morning” as “a somewhat minimalist feeling piece representing the beautiful and quiet mornings (ignoring all the roosters crowing).” Very peaceful and still, it feels like a wonderful way to wake up (minus the roosters!)! Quiet and meditative, “Solitary Journey” is the perfect music for long drives - in this case from Manila to the area where James and his wife were staying. “Pilgrimage Island” was inspired by a beautiful place in the Hundred Island region that is home to a statue of Christ that you can see from miles away. Composed as a slow waltz, it has a very relaxed, easy flow. “Bridge to Cebu,” inspired by one of the most-visited areas of The Philippines, flows effortlessly and with grace. James and his wife visited The Philippines during the rainy season and were treated to “frequent and peaceful” downpours in the afternoons. “Tropical Rain” was inspired by some of those showers, and, as it often does, the piano captures the feeling of rain perfectly. “Cantabile” is the music term for “in a singing style,” and “Cantabile Sunset” is definitely a “song without words” that describes the beauty of a sunset - especially over the water. “Night in Pangasinan” is a musical tribute to the province where James’ wife’s hometown is located and where they stayed for the duration of their trip. Warm and gently nostalgic, it’s a heartfelt close to a beautiful album!

Philippine Dreams is available to stream or download from Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes as well as from streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. It’s one of James Michael Stevens’ best albums, so don’t miss it! Songbooks and sheet music are available on SheetMusicPlus.com and SheetMusicDirect.com.