The piano music of George Skaroulis

 

Pianist/keyboard player George Skaroulis’ seventh release, Second Nature, is his best yet.

Twenty-one (!) tracks long and every single one is recommendable. Of course, with twenty-one selections on a single CD, some of the songs are fairly short (under two minutes), but Skaroulis gets around this by cleverly bridging several tracks together and also maintaining a certain “vibe” throughout the CD. The mood is restrained and beautiful. In fact, this is one of the prettiest (I know, most people hate my use of this word) recordings I’ve heard in a while. Honestly, I listened to this CD at least ten times before writing this review because I couldn’t get enough of it. Skaroulis has a real knack for crafting solo piano numbers that never stray into MOR (middle of the road) hell yet are instantly accessible and genuinely sincere in their appeal. He displayed this talent throughout his previous recording, Return to Homeland, but here it’s even more evident.



Not all the songs on the album are originals. In the liner notes, Skaroulis writes of his admiration for Mark Isham and, in particular, his soundtrack work. Two of the selections on Second Nature were written by Isham (the title music from A River Runs Through It and Mrs. Soffel). Besides these two tracks, Skaroulis also includes a nice reworking of the traditional hymn “The Water Is Wide,” (graced by Paul Mercer’s viola and a graceful vocal from either Monica Matthews or Lindsey Mosby - I don’t know which one).

While the two Isham interpretations are well done (“A River Runs Through It,” in particular, is delicate and evocative), it’s the originals that make Second Nature the success that it is. For those who prefer more than just piano sometimes, discrete use of synthesizers and electronic keyboards are featured on some of Second Nature’s best tracks, such as “Aqua Clara” with its synth vibes and hushed female vocals (lyrics and wordless) along with other sensual electronic keyboards, twinkling synth bells and Mercer’s romantic violin. The title track blends the sound of flowing water, sad synth strings and somber piano in a picture-perfect a new age music track. Still later in the album, on “Cold Morning Shadow,” (co-written by Skaroulis and Mercer), violin and delicate but incredibly powerful synths truly elicit the juxtaposition of “cold” and the dawn.



This may sound like hyperbole, but I think Second Nature is just about as perfect a new age piano/keyboard album as anyone could record. Quality control is outstanding - this album sounds terrific. I mean, hell, I listened to it on headphones in a laundromat (while waiting for a down comforter I was drying) and it still sounded great! There’s no denying Skaroulis’ obvious piano-playing talent, but it’s his “feel” and his emotionally rich compositions that raise him far above most of the other players in this genre. The music on this CD is accessible, yet not commercial; it’s warm and human, but not maudlin or sappy. It’s piano played by someone who, as far as I can tell, really loves playing this kind of music. This album is so easy to recommend. Unless you’re totally opposed to the presence of electronic keyboards on a few track, Second Nature is a no-brainer. Buy it, play it, and enjoy it. How much simpler could it be?

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