Tom Ameen's Tales of the Sea is a reissue of his 2021 album, Stories From the Sea, with some important differences: This version features the tracks with music only—no nature sounds or narrations, just the music. The original album was part of The Outlaw Ocean Music Project and was based on a New York Times bestselling book, The Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina. The book itself is the result of Urbina's five years at sea doing investigative reporting for the New York Times: "There are few remaining frontiers on our planet. But perhaps the wildest, and least understood, are the world’s oceans: too big to police, and under no clear international authority, these immense regions of treacherous water play host to rampant criminality and exploitation." It's a fascinating book and the hundreds of albums that were included in the project were created in any music genre you can think of - an amazing project!

Tales of the Sea is a collection of ten piano solos and piano-based pieces inspired by chapters of the book. This album is all about the music and is beautifully done. I'm not naming favorite tracks because the whole album is excellent and it's impossible to choose favorites from any of them.

The album begins with "Serenade For the Humpbacks," inspired by climbing a mountain and watching whales sleeping in the waters below. The gorgeous piano solo is tranquility set to music. "The Sea Shepherd" is a beautifully orchestrated piece named for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society which was formally incorporated in the state of Oregon in 1981 with the mission of marine mammal protection and conservation. The original goal was to shut down illegal whaling and sealing operations, but Sea Shepherd later expanded its mission to include all marine wildlife. "Whispers From the Waves" refers to the contrasting lifestyles at home and on the ships where life was defined by "privacy, quiet and waiting." The piano solo is utterly peaceful and overflows with grace and beauty - a subtle reminder of how important times of quiet are to a sense of well-being. "Awaiting Justice" is piano with light orchestration and expresses a deeply poignant sense of longing. "Beyond the Borders" is one of the "bigger" pieces with powerful rhythms and wide-ranging emotional clout. "Yearning For Freedom," a heartbreaking piece for piano and cello, conveys its message with grace and beauty. "An Ocean At Peace" contrasts the tranquility of a quiet ocean with a sense of moving forward. Piano, guitar and strings work together seamlessly to create this feeling of a peaceful kind of energy. Tales From the Sea comes to a quiet close with the solo piano "Calling Of the Deep" that describes feeling homesickness for the sea when arriving back on land. What an incredible story this album tells! Music is truly a magical medium and Tom Ameen has done an incredible job of proving that point!

Tales of the Sea will be released on December 6, 2024 and is available for pre-release orders on Amazon now. More links will be added as they become available. It's a great album and a vitally important cause!