Favorite Icon, Full size
Album Review: Synfonia
Joe Bongiorno
Cover image of the album Synfonia by Joe Bongiorno
Synfonia
Joe Bongiorno
2015 / Piano Haven
46 minutes
Review by Kathy Parsons
Synfonia is a collection of ten of pianist/composer Joe Bongiorno’s piano solos fully orchestrated by fellow pianist/composer Doug Hammer. Bongiorno dedicated this album to his father, and his music takes on a completely new dimension with symphonic instrumentation. Hammer has done a masterful job of enhancing Bongiorno’s music without overpowering the beautiful piano sound Bongiorno is so well-known for. The collection includes one new piece called “Love’s Light,” a tender love song that will elicit many deep sighs; the other nine are new versions of pieces previously released as piano solos. Even with full orchestration, the music is sweet, mellow, and very soothing. It is a delight to listen to it with full concentration or as lovely background music while doing something else. I loved listening to it in the car and was amazed at how quickly I reached my destination! Longtime fans of Joe Bongiorno’s music will find much to enjoy in this album, hearing fresh interpretations of some old favorites chosen from five of Joe’s albums; new fans are in for a real treat! All ten pieces are excellent, but my own favorites are “Melancholy Morning,” “Love’s Light,” “Walk With Me,” “A Candlelight Waltz,” and “Once a Child.” Synfonia is available from www.solopianomusic.com, Amazon, and iTunes. Very highly recommended!
March 29, 2015
More reviews of Joe Bongiorno albums
Cover image of the album At Peace by Joe Bongiorno
2000
Cover image of the album Whisperings Solo Piano Volume 1 by Joe Bongiorno
2011
(contributing artist)
Cover image of the album Christmas Whisperings 2 by Joe Bongiorno
2015
(contributing artist)