Tom Ameen's Hope Is In Your Hands EP is part of The Noam Chomsky Music Project which is spearheaded by Ian Urbina (The Outlaw Ocean Music Project). Noam Chomsky is among the most important scholars and dissident intellectuals of the past fifty years. A Laureate Professor and an anarchist, he is widely hailed as “the father of modern linguistics.” A defender of free speech and a tireless human rights activist, he has authored more than 150 books and is one of the most cited scholars in modern history. The Noam Chomsky Music Project aims to preserve and celebrate Chomsky's outlook on the world and has collected an archive of the most notable soundbites from hundreds of the lectures he has given throughout his life. They then partnered with a diverse group of more than 50 artists from around the world to create music inspired by and infused with Chomsky's voice. Like The Outlaw Ocean Music Project, the music is very diverse and in a multitude of genres and styles.

Ameen's Hope Is In Your Hands EP has five original piano-based compositions enhanced with strings, flute and other instrumentation. All five are very thoughtful and expressive and the music flows easily from one track to the next. Short spoken-word preludes by Chomsky introduce us to his voice and thoughts on humanitarian and environmental issues and then the music begins (the last two tracks have no spoken words).

The EP begins with "Toll Of War," a poignant and deeply emotional piece that starts out as a piano solo, adding cello and then more strings and flute as it evolves - beautiful! The title track also begins as a piano solo and becomes a piano and flute duet with light percussion and string washes. Gently encouraging and optimistic, warmth flows from every note. "Survival" refers to global warming and the decisions that need to be made about what to do about it. Piano and orchestra explore this issue in a thoughtful, compelling manner that is both graceful and inspiring. "The Human Connection" is a piano solo, no spoken word, but speaks from the heart in a way that words never can - my favorite of the five pieces. "A Peaceful Solution" has some orchestral passages, but is mostly piano. Delicate and sincere, it's a soothing close to another great album from Tom Ameen!

Hope is In Your Hands EP is available from Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes, and streaming sites like Spotify. Check out some of the other music from The Noam Chomsky Music Project at that site as well!