Love Is… is the fifth album from composer and multi-instrumentalist Terry Lee Nichols, and I’m very happy to say that I’ve reviewed all five! Each album has had a distinctive theme and “love” is very high on many people’s list of favorites! Each of the eleven tracks refers to a different kind of love - romantic, close friendships, familial relationships and more. Along with Terry and his piano, virtual instruments and synths, the album includes the passionate vocals of Rebekah Eden and John Riesen as well as a variety of orchestral instruments. All but two of the tracks are original compositions: the opening track is a beautiful arrangement of Henry Mancini’s classic “Moon River” and the tenth track is “Nella Fantasia” by Ennio Morricone. A very heartfelt and diverse group of pieces, the album is warm and uplifting from start to finish. If you visit the Love Is… page on Terry’s website, there is a booklet that explains the inspiration for each piece, a second booklet with stories and poems about the music written by Philip Spevak, album credits, Terry’s biography, interviews and reviews and the sheet music for “Finding Annie.” You can also listen to the full album for free there! Wow!!!

As I mentioned, the album begins with “Is This All Just a Dream?,” Terry’s heartfelt arrangement of “Moon River.” It begins with dreamy, ambient sounds before Rebekah Eden’s vocals enter about a third of the way in, accompanied by acoustic guitar, piano and synths. This song has obviously held a lot of meaning for Terry and that comes through in the music. “Friendship” was co-composed with Terry’s longtime friend, Howard Wershil. Quoting the booklet: “This song honors the quiet, enduring beauty of a bond built on honesty, trust, and deep mutual care.” Everyone should have such a friend in their lives! For me, “Lying Next to You” is about feeling absolute peace and contentment and wanting that for your beloved as well. “Morning Glory” greets a new day overflowing with warmth and optimism: “I let love rise with the sun - soft, steady, unwavering. Love for the world, for myself, for the sacred ordinary moments that shape my life.” Piano, strings, and Rebekah’s wordless vocals send this one soaring! “I Remember Her Smile” recalls a magical evening with warmth and tenderness. “Finding Annie” is my favorite track partly because it is mostly solo piano, but also because of the poignant story it tells. “Trinity” is one of the more orchestrated pieces and is prefaced in the booklet with: “Some feelings are stronger than fear: love, longing, desire” (credited to Luanne Rice). Very deeply emotional, it clearly expresses loss and acceptance as well as a hint of mystery - another favorite! “Lullaby” overflows with a father’s unwavering love for his sons - at any age. What a treasure! “We’ve Had a Good Life” is a sweet tribute to Terry’s mother and step-dad: “a story about love lost and rediscovered, about memory, resilience, and the beauty of growing old together.” “Nella Fantasia” is an almost operatic vocal sung in Italian by John Riesen (the lyrics are translated into English in the booklet). Strings and piano accompany the passionate vocals. The album closes with “The Winds of Time,” a beautifully reflective piece for piano and orchestra that conveys both strength and great tenderness.

Love Is… is a very special and deeply personal album! It is available from Terry Lee Nichols’ website as well as from Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes and streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. Don’t miss it!