Peter Kater has been one of the most prolific pianist/composers anywhere for the past forty years, and to say I’ve been a big fan is a major understatement! In fact, Untethered Heart is the thirty-first of his albums that I’ve reviewed since 1998! And what an amazing work of art it is! The seven original tracks are mostly solo piano or piano with strings and celebrate the raw beauty of emotional release and personal transformation as well as the liberation found in letting go of the “baggage” that can weigh us down. That’s a lot to express musically, but Peter does it so well and in a style that sounds very fresh, passionate and from the heart. The title track is more orchestrated and features the soaring wordless vocals of Kristin Hoffman. Peter also added synth to some of the music, but this is primarily a piano album. I’ll even go out on a limb here and say that it’s one of Peter Kater’s best albums to date!

Untethered Heart begins with “Freed,” a gentle, very open piano solo that starts out with a feeling of possibly being lost or without direction, building confidence and strength as the piece unfolds. By the last minute or two of the track, confidence has been rebuilt and joy breaks through - a more-than-impressive start! “Flight (Extended)” is a new version of an older piece and includes strings as well as the piano. While the piano soars on the wings of freedom, the strings add a grounding element - a very exciting piece that quiets near the end and gently fades out. “Spellbound” returns to solo piano and expresses the feeling of being rapturously lost in the beauty of something (or someone). “Spirit (Extended)” is also a new version of an older piece, this time for piano and strings. Lively and upbeat, it overflows with unbridled joy and optimism with Peter’s fingers flying all over the piano keyboard! “Hinterlight” is a gorgeous piano solo that feels just a bit mysterious - in a very good way! Open-hearted emotion runs through every note, sometimes very quietly, and gently fading out at the end. The title track is the “biggest” piece on the album with piano, vocals (no lyrics), and orchestral strings. Kristin Hoffman’s powerful and very expressive voice takes the piece in various emotional directions while the strings and piano support her - another amazing piece! The album comes to a close with the beautifully-flowing “Boundless,” a piece for piano with synth washes behind it. Passionate and soaring, it expresses emotional liberation and freedom as well as the exhilaration and joy they can bring. It’s a fantastic close to a fantastic album.

You might have noticed that I didn’t mention any favorites in my review. All of the tracks are too good to pick just a few and I feel very sure that the album will add at least a few more awards to Peter Kater’s vast collection!! Untethered Heart is available from Amazon (digital and CD) and Apple Music/iTunes as well as streaming services including Spotify and Pandora. Very highly recommended!