Robin Spielberg’s newest release is subtitled “songs of grace, nostalgia, and romance”, and is a warm and loving tribute to her father, who shared a love of music with his daughter as she grew up and into adulthood. Spielberg’s elegant playing style and deeply personal arrangements of favorite songs make this a wonderful collection for music lovers of all ages. The music spans a timeframe from the 1929 title song up through the more recent “Save the Best For Last”, and includes a number of songs from musical theater as well as popular pieces and standards. “Time in a Bottle” has been a favorite song of mine for many years, and Robin’s arrangement and performance are stellar. The emotional impact of her interpretation is so deeply personal that the song could easily be her own. “Jean” is given a gentle and bittersweet touch, at once hopeful and just a little sad. “The Surrey With the Fringe On Top” is a bit of a surprise, played with a sunny smile and a little whimsy. It’s easy to imagine that this was a favorite song shared between father and daughter, possibly dissolving into giggles at some point. “With You” from “Pippin” is a lovely ballad with a flowing melody line, played with grace and passion. “With a Song in My Heart” is also a deeply personal piece - so sad, seeming to be seeking a ray of hope or optimism in the darkness that can envelop us all at times.

With a Song in My Heart is Robin Spielberg’s tenth album, and she just keeps getting better! This collection is a glimpse into the music that helped to shape this artist and undoubtedly strongly influenced her own composing style. Even though the music is familiar, Robin makes the pieces very personally her own - something only a handful of pianists can do this well. This is a great album, and I highly recommend it!