Pianist/composer Louis Landon continues his incredibly prolific creative streak with Heartfelt Solo Piano, the second of four albums of new music released in 2019. Many of Landon’s albums are geared toward healing and are more meditative and soothing, but this one has a powerful range of emotions and dynamics. All but one of the fourteen tracks were recorded at The Peace Palace (Landon’s home studio in Sedona, Arizona) and the album was mastered by Joe Bongiorno at Piano Haven, also in Sedona. One of the most accomplished pianists in the genre (in several genres, actually!), Landon can do absolutely anything he chooses at the piano and make it sound effortless and wonderful!

Heartfelt Solo Piano begins with “Innocence,” the perfect title for this gentle piece of musical tenderness. I sometimes wonder if anyone remembers what innocence is anymore, so this is a lovely reminder! “Sweet Honey” is light and carefree with a playful lilt. “Sweet Sadness” conveys the feeling of an honest and intimate conversation where both people are communicating from the heart. “Foreign Lands” is the first of several favorites. I love the energy of the rolling broken chords in the left hand, the somewhat exotic melody on the right and the shifts from major to minor chords throughout. “Have No Fear” cranks up the energy level several notches with a swirling melody built around a descending chord progression. “Epic World” is my favorite piece on the album. Passionate and dramatic, the themes vary from poignant to fiery and show what an amazing pianist Landon is. This one has a very big “wow!” factor as well as a ton of emotional expression. “Resting In Grace” is another favorite. Expressing compassion and hope with warmth and honesty, it feels like a loving hug. The gorgeous melody in “Remembering” says more than words ever could as it reaches into the soul with deep emotion - I love this one! “Viva” is a high-energy thrill ride that swirls and dances for joy. “Day of Reckoning” is much darker and more serious, as the title implies. “Pure Joy” is a piece recorded at a live performance and I suspect it’s an improvisation (Landon is a master of improvisation!). It moves effortlessly from smooth and easy to up-tempo gospel without batting an eyelash and, judging from the audience reaction at the end, it was obviously a real crowd-pleaser - AND a great way to end this excellent album!

Heartfelt Solo Piano is a winner from beginning to end! It is available from www.louislandon,com, Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby and many streaming sites.