Album Review For
Lisa Pressman
“Quiet Goodbye”
Composed by Lisa Pressman and Tim Ponzek. Performed by Lisa Pressman
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Lisa Pressman and Tim Ponzek
Review by Kerry Barnes
Introduction.
The talents of this eminent musician are far reaching and equally balanced. The fact that Lisa is a singer as well as a pianist
directly and beautifully impacts the sound quality and timbre of melodic construction. A deep sense of peace prevails and beckons elegant listeners in.
Serenity and healing is always within her music and that will last us forever.
Track 1.
“Painting Water” 5.06
Words and Music by Tim Ponzek
‘One day I’d like to paint a stream, the way it runs right through my dream’ Beautiful ‘perfect 5ths’ in Ostinato form
are laid down with a Celtic sensibility, just right for a bright and sonorous piano writing. This Bosendorfer concert grand
enables effortless flow and lightness of touch like dandelion seeds floating in a gentle breeze. Am loving the Medieval modulations in the lower range of the
keyboard as it continues it’s ‘continuo’. ‘Fermata’ is expertly used, creating intelligent phrasing and mathematical
line, it’s great to be held in suspension and hiatus like this, Lisa communicates this to us directly.
A descending pianistic ‘flourish motif’ sparkling and silvery brushes past my cheek, on it’s way down to deep octave
pedalling, holding dream like harmonics in it’s grasp, gently and with resonance. Now Lisa introduces us to the middle of
the piano range. An 8 quaver rhythm in the left hand is buoyant and the stresses are on beats 1,2,4, and 5,6,8. Just leaving out quavers 3 and 7 is totally magical, like a pixie has stolen them!! The flourishes continue, also adding unresolved melodic notes, held long
enough to tell us so!! The Coda drips like watercolour on canvass, and I totally love this work of art. Just beautiful!
Track 2.
“A Drink from a Waterfall” 6.16
Music by Tim Ponzek and Lisa Pressman
Little sprinkles of pianistic magic from a silver wand cascading before our eyes. Held ‘spread chords’ hold our attention
with their language of chosen notes that are beyond my knowledge, just divine.
I am blown away by the harmonic travels in this piece, it seems to me that Lisa instinctively possesses the structure of
every chord and key change known to mankind on this planet!!!! She switches from major to minor in the flick of a
switch, you just don’t know what’s coming, and whatever it is........is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard.
Lisa has also found a perfect balance between complexity and a serene simplistic delivery, it takes one hell of a
musician to pull this off! Her use of rubato and fermata are in complete symbiosis, not to mention glissandi!!
A new episode greets our ears, like a cross-stitching of repeated notes in one place, then a dab of divine bass octave
with a sonority of placement, love this so much. There lies a certain outpouring of fluidity in this writing as the rhythm gently
bounces in a triple time, either three-four or six-eight, and this is the first time I feel myself actually ‘counting’. The quality of
recording is second to none and captures Lisa’s lightness of touch and sensitivity.
There’s a definite difference between American and British musicians’ New Age harmonic palettes, the latter not being so
complex or matured. I have noted this through the many reviews I’ve completed. Well Lisa, my hat goes off to you in this track!!
Track 3.
“Forever and a Day” 4.50
Music by Lisa Pressman
Lisa here, is in laid back ‘ad-libitum’ style. Her phrasing is in complete symbiosis with her breathing as her heart beats to sustain
this rubato. I could listen to this music forever, and a day. It’s sensually soothing and very expressive. My daughter Penny
sits next to me while writing reviews and has listened to some awesome piano
writing, but she said “Mum, I think this is the best piano music I’ve ever heard”......truly, she said that.
This music keeps changing the narrative and goal posts, like walking through a musical- maze. The chord sequencing is extremely
accomplished and in all my years of playing piano I still can’t name what Lisa has conjured up here!! Penny also said
that there are fleeting glimpses of the music for Final Fantasy, a game she has played for years. Now and again I hear a
chord that makes me feel anxious, but always beautifully resolved.
At around 2.50, a welcome melodic there comes into view and I sense a time signature now that my brain latches on to.
I can hear Lisa vocalising this melody, as if singing whilst in her ‘happy-place’ joined at the hip by inspired and sophisticated
creativity. I bet the sheet music looks very challenging for this piece, sharps and flats all over the place!! I feel an infinite love
pouring from Lisa’s heart, gifted to us forever, and a day.
Title Track 4.
“Quiet Goodbye” 5.06
Music by Tim Ponzek
A certain sadness descends upon me, like Nino Rota waving me goodbye from his life and banning me from listening to his
music ever again. The human being at centre stage here I feel cannot say the parting words he or she wishes, instead,
an insular substitute, hushed from feelings. The harmonic narrative I understand more in this piece, a bit more
like something I would write only with much cleverer phrasing, and I wish to thank you Lisa, right at this point, for
teaching me that and when I sit at my little piano in future, it will be with renewed thought processes.
In a funny way I feel that I could dance a sad waltz to this beautiful music, but how is that possible in this quadruple measure??
......it just gives me that feeling. Where’s my Romeo when I need him!!
Am loving the use of consecutives 6ths to romantically yet sadly fill out the melody, so beautiful.......and what more fitting a
way to embellish the Coda, than with little descending 3rds wrapped in loneliness and tears. So heartfelt.
Track 5.
“One Inch = A Thousand Miles” 5.12
Words and Music by Tim Ponzek
As Lisa begins in reflective mood, I find myself looking into my garden, new, fresh
shoots of rose leaf, just ‘one inch’ long, and all the rose leaves in the world today,
reach out for ‘thousands of miles’ in togetherness. The ‘cantabile tone’ here is beautifully produced on Lisa’s gorgeous
instrument with pedalling to die for. I’m still staring into the middle distance, in
flow of thought and shaped by Lisa’s phrasing, elongated, held in pose and beginning again.
I feel deep rumblings of low, low bass octaves and I don’t want them to end.......please can we have more Lisa!!
As the piano now sings out in the middle thickness I close my eyes, leaving the
sound to linger as it possesses my body, so lyrical and emotive. A truly beautiful track
indeed. We come full circle as Lisa ends as she began, now embellished in it’s final moments with faint pedal mechanical
noises which are always great to hear and the piano’s way of saying “I have served
you well, now I take my bow, and you will listen”. Magical.
Track 6.
“Lighter Than Air” 6.09
Music by Tim Ponzek and Lisa Pressman
I must say I’m amazed at Lisa’s musical stamina....these long form compositions are second nature to her it seems, I couldn’t do it!!
Lisa ascends naturally skyward in a beautiful hot air balloon and taking in it’s panoramic views. Little repeated
pentatonic intervals give an ‘Oriental-Feel’ instantly with clever use of consecutive perfect 4ths and 5ths. Looking down from
up on high, golden lanterns delicately rise to meet us with their papery vulnerability.
Middle thickness writing brings repeated melodic 2nds and sound so beautiful. A slight seriousness is felt for a moment
and drags in rapturous modulations and key changes, I love this. Once again, we rise to meet the highest musical thermals
with a theme of Konuka-Ame in the lightest of rains, delicately sprinkling. A rush of four notes from a silvery-scale
swoop downwards and beckon us to follow, but Lisa wants to have one more breath of pentatonic prettiness, like a
gentle whisper fading up to skylines above. I think this is my favourite piece so far!!
Track 7.
“Willow” 5.10
Music by Lisa Pressman
The leafy-strands of a delicate and gracefully swaying Willow tree enters our imagery. It’s slow moving shapes have
enough time to repose themselves in held suspension. Just beautiful Lisa, picture painting at it’s best for sure!!
Am loving the 3-against-2 part of the calm watered melody, and the repetition throughout is never boring, not for this
grand lady of a tree, a whispering willow.
One of Lisa's musical hallmarks is her use of suddenly moving into a small key
change and/or modulation that is unexpected and here she doesn’t disappoint, plus her use of deep bass
octaves, what more could you want! A little inclusion of melodic threads in 6ths
adds some depth in the treble clef area, then one long hold of somewhat musical angst, I wait, and wait again, it’s still there,
maybe a not so beautiful cloud hovers above, with a promise of rain?? Who knows.
Track 8.
“Seven Days of Winter” 5.07
Music by Tim Ponzek and Lisa Pressman
“Expressing the tranquil joy of Winter”.....Lisa’s own words to describe her piece and she couldn’t be more right!
Her use of staggered-intervals arrange the icy fingers at the piano, (my fingers do not like playing those!!) and for some reason I
just want to rest Lisa’s arms and hands in a hot bowl of water......you can really hear the freeze!!.......and the choice of higher
register on the keyboard is perfect. The structure is quite ‘episodical’ and compartmentalised but still contains the
Lisa Pressman hallmarks in modulation and style.
I hear a different tapestry of complex patterning and marvel at the flexibility in Lisa’s arms and hands that
take her anywhere she wants to travel!! I also note the bars of change in counts from three-four, and back to four-four,
seamlessly included, you’d hardly notice, but the effect is beautiful.
Here comes the Coda.......in coolness and light, suspending the listener once again in the tranquil joys of winter amid the
highest star constellation, just about visible to the naked eye.
Track 9.
“So Long Ago” 4.43
Music by Lisa Pressman
A very personal memory is at play here, dream from far away in Lisa’s heart. The ‘reverie’ is accompanied by her wonderful
separation of the fingers and pure dexterity in spread chords. Melodies are played in octaves with a gorgeous singing
tone to boot. There is a certain ‘tenderness’ of touch in complete symbiosis with nostalgic overtones.
Lisa is in reflective mood here, days gone by, deep seated memories, a walk in the forest without the shadow of a loved one maybe???
An outpouring of emotion is combined with changes of time within bars, seamlessly transitioning between 3 and 4
measures, masterfully done!! Ooooh, I’m getting Mr. Rota again!!! I’ve gotta get me a Bosendorfer grand!!
.......as we speak I only have a digital upright, but if I keep saving I might get one aged 104 years!! LOL!! (that is my reverie)
Track. 10
“Awaken to a Dream” 5.36
Music by Tim Ponzek and Lisa Pressman
When awakening to a dream I always think of Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite and especially “Morning” from it.
Like Lisa, he creates tender melodies not only from the awakening dream, but from the night
before too. I wonder how different they would sound???
Lisa’s treatment of piano reveries are second to none and has wormed it’s way into my musical brain
this week. Perhaps it will fade when starting another review, but maybe with less imagination, imagery and mastery.
E N D
Lisa Pressman and Tim Ponzek
At Opus Fromus Label
BMI
Lisa Pressman
“Quiet Goodbye”
Composed by Lisa Pressman and Tim Ponzek. Performed by Lisa Pressman
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Lisa Pressman and Tim Ponzek
Review by Kerry Barnes
Introduction.
The talents of this eminent musician are far reaching and equally balanced. The fact that Lisa is a singer as well as a pianist
directly and beautifully impacts the sound quality and timbre of melodic construction. A deep sense of peace prevails and beckons elegant listeners in.
Serenity and healing is always within her music and that will last us forever.
Track 1.
“Painting Water” 5.06
Words and Music by Tim Ponzek
‘One day I’d like to paint a stream, the way it runs right through my dream’ Beautiful ‘perfect 5ths’ in Ostinato form
are laid down with a Celtic sensibility, just right for a bright and sonorous piano writing. This Bosendorfer concert grand
enables effortless flow and lightness of touch like dandelion seeds floating in a gentle breeze. Am loving the Medieval modulations in the lower range of the
keyboard as it continues it’s ‘continuo’. ‘Fermata’ is expertly used, creating intelligent phrasing and mathematical
line, it’s great to be held in suspension and hiatus like this, Lisa communicates this to us directly.
A descending pianistic ‘flourish motif’ sparkling and silvery brushes past my cheek, on it’s way down to deep octave
pedalling, holding dream like harmonics in it’s grasp, gently and with resonance. Now Lisa introduces us to the middle of
the piano range. An 8 quaver rhythm in the left hand is buoyant and the stresses are on beats 1,2,4, and 5,6,8. Just leaving out quavers 3 and 7 is totally magical, like a pixie has stolen them!! The flourishes continue, also adding unresolved melodic notes, held long
enough to tell us so!! The Coda drips like watercolour on canvass, and I totally love this work of art. Just beautiful!
Track 2.
“A Drink from a Waterfall” 6.16
Music by Tim Ponzek and Lisa Pressman
Little sprinkles of pianistic magic from a silver wand cascading before our eyes. Held ‘spread chords’ hold our attention
with their language of chosen notes that are beyond my knowledge, just divine.
I am blown away by the harmonic travels in this piece, it seems to me that Lisa instinctively possesses the structure of
every chord and key change known to mankind on this planet!!!! She switches from major to minor in the flick of a
switch, you just don’t know what’s coming, and whatever it is........is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard.
Lisa has also found a perfect balance between complexity and a serene simplistic delivery, it takes one hell of a
musician to pull this off! Her use of rubato and fermata are in complete symbiosis, not to mention glissandi!!
A new episode greets our ears, like a cross-stitching of repeated notes in one place, then a dab of divine bass octave
with a sonority of placement, love this so much. There lies a certain outpouring of fluidity in this writing as the rhythm gently
bounces in a triple time, either three-four or six-eight, and this is the first time I feel myself actually ‘counting’. The quality of
recording is second to none and captures Lisa’s lightness of touch and sensitivity.
There’s a definite difference between American and British musicians’ New Age harmonic palettes, the latter not being so
complex or matured. I have noted this through the many reviews I’ve completed. Well Lisa, my hat goes off to you in this track!!
Track 3.
“Forever and a Day” 4.50
Music by Lisa Pressman
Lisa here, is in laid back ‘ad-libitum’ style. Her phrasing is in complete symbiosis with her breathing as her heart beats to sustain
this rubato. I could listen to this music forever, and a day. It’s sensually soothing and very expressive. My daughter Penny
sits next to me while writing reviews and has listened to some awesome piano
writing, but she said “Mum, I think this is the best piano music I’ve ever heard”......truly, she said that.
This music keeps changing the narrative and goal posts, like walking through a musical- maze. The chord sequencing is extremely
accomplished and in all my years of playing piano I still can’t name what Lisa has conjured up here!! Penny also said
that there are fleeting glimpses of the music for Final Fantasy, a game she has played for years. Now and again I hear a
chord that makes me feel anxious, but always beautifully resolved.
At around 2.50, a welcome melodic there comes into view and I sense a time signature now that my brain latches on to.
I can hear Lisa vocalising this melody, as if singing whilst in her ‘happy-place’ joined at the hip by inspired and sophisticated
creativity. I bet the sheet music looks very challenging for this piece, sharps and flats all over the place!! I feel an infinite love
pouring from Lisa’s heart, gifted to us forever, and a day.
Title Track 4.
“Quiet Goodbye” 5.06
Music by Tim Ponzek
A certain sadness descends upon me, like Nino Rota waving me goodbye from his life and banning me from listening to his
music ever again. The human being at centre stage here I feel cannot say the parting words he or she wishes, instead,
an insular substitute, hushed from feelings. The harmonic narrative I understand more in this piece, a bit more
like something I would write only with much cleverer phrasing, and I wish to thank you Lisa, right at this point, for
teaching me that and when I sit at my little piano in future, it will be with renewed thought processes.
In a funny way I feel that I could dance a sad waltz to this beautiful music, but how is that possible in this quadruple measure??
......it just gives me that feeling. Where’s my Romeo when I need him!!
Am loving the use of consecutives 6ths to romantically yet sadly fill out the melody, so beautiful.......and what more fitting a
way to embellish the Coda, than with little descending 3rds wrapped in loneliness and tears. So heartfelt.
Track 5.
“One Inch = A Thousand Miles” 5.12
Words and Music by Tim Ponzek
As Lisa begins in reflective mood, I find myself looking into my garden, new, fresh
shoots of rose leaf, just ‘one inch’ long, and all the rose leaves in the world today,
reach out for ‘thousands of miles’ in togetherness. The ‘cantabile tone’ here is beautifully produced on Lisa’s gorgeous
instrument with pedalling to die for. I’m still staring into the middle distance, in
flow of thought and shaped by Lisa’s phrasing, elongated, held in pose and beginning again.
I feel deep rumblings of low, low bass octaves and I don’t want them to end.......please can we have more Lisa!!
As the piano now sings out in the middle thickness I close my eyes, leaving the
sound to linger as it possesses my body, so lyrical and emotive. A truly beautiful track
indeed. We come full circle as Lisa ends as she began, now embellished in it’s final moments with faint pedal mechanical
noises which are always great to hear and the piano’s way of saying “I have served
you well, now I take my bow, and you will listen”. Magical.
Track 6.
“Lighter Than Air” 6.09
Music by Tim Ponzek and Lisa Pressman
I must say I’m amazed at Lisa’s musical stamina....these long form compositions are second nature to her it seems, I couldn’t do it!!
Lisa ascends naturally skyward in a beautiful hot air balloon and taking in it’s panoramic views. Little repeated
pentatonic intervals give an ‘Oriental-Feel’ instantly with clever use of consecutive perfect 4ths and 5ths. Looking down from
up on high, golden lanterns delicately rise to meet us with their papery vulnerability.
Middle thickness writing brings repeated melodic 2nds and sound so beautiful. A slight seriousness is felt for a moment
and drags in rapturous modulations and key changes, I love this. Once again, we rise to meet the highest musical thermals
with a theme of Konuka-Ame in the lightest of rains, delicately sprinkling. A rush of four notes from a silvery-scale
swoop downwards and beckon us to follow, but Lisa wants to have one more breath of pentatonic prettiness, like a
gentle whisper fading up to skylines above. I think this is my favourite piece so far!!
Track 7.
“Willow” 5.10
Music by Lisa Pressman
The leafy-strands of a delicate and gracefully swaying Willow tree enters our imagery. It’s slow moving shapes have
enough time to repose themselves in held suspension. Just beautiful Lisa, picture painting at it’s best for sure!!
Am loving the 3-against-2 part of the calm watered melody, and the repetition throughout is never boring, not for this
grand lady of a tree, a whispering willow.
One of Lisa's musical hallmarks is her use of suddenly moving into a small key
change and/or modulation that is unexpected and here she doesn’t disappoint, plus her use of deep bass
octaves, what more could you want! A little inclusion of melodic threads in 6ths
adds some depth in the treble clef area, then one long hold of somewhat musical angst, I wait, and wait again, it’s still there,
maybe a not so beautiful cloud hovers above, with a promise of rain?? Who knows.
Track 8.
“Seven Days of Winter” 5.07
Music by Tim Ponzek and Lisa Pressman
“Expressing the tranquil joy of Winter”.....Lisa’s own words to describe her piece and she couldn’t be more right!
Her use of staggered-intervals arrange the icy fingers at the piano, (my fingers do not like playing those!!) and for some reason I
just want to rest Lisa’s arms and hands in a hot bowl of water......you can really hear the freeze!!.......and the choice of higher
register on the keyboard is perfect. The structure is quite ‘episodical’ and compartmentalised but still contains the
Lisa Pressman hallmarks in modulation and style.
I hear a different tapestry of complex patterning and marvel at the flexibility in Lisa’s arms and hands that
take her anywhere she wants to travel!! I also note the bars of change in counts from three-four, and back to four-four,
seamlessly included, you’d hardly notice, but the effect is beautiful.
Here comes the Coda.......in coolness and light, suspending the listener once again in the tranquil joys of winter amid the
highest star constellation, just about visible to the naked eye.
Track 9.
“So Long Ago” 4.43
Music by Lisa Pressman
A very personal memory is at play here, dream from far away in Lisa’s heart. The ‘reverie’ is accompanied by her wonderful
separation of the fingers and pure dexterity in spread chords. Melodies are played in octaves with a gorgeous singing
tone to boot. There is a certain ‘tenderness’ of touch in complete symbiosis with nostalgic overtones.
Lisa is in reflective mood here, days gone by, deep seated memories, a walk in the forest without the shadow of a loved one maybe???
An outpouring of emotion is combined with changes of time within bars, seamlessly transitioning between 3 and 4
measures, masterfully done!! Ooooh, I’m getting Mr. Rota again!!! I’ve gotta get me a Bosendorfer grand!!
.......as we speak I only have a digital upright, but if I keep saving I might get one aged 104 years!! LOL!! (that is my reverie)
Track. 10
“Awaken to a Dream” 5.36
Music by Tim Ponzek and Lisa Pressman
When awakening to a dream I always think of Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite and especially “Morning” from it.
Like Lisa, he creates tender melodies not only from the awakening dream, but from the night
before too. I wonder how different they would sound???
Lisa’s treatment of piano reveries are second to none and has wormed it’s way into my musical brain
this week. Perhaps it will fade when starting another review, but maybe with less imagination, imagery and mastery.
E N D
Lisa Pressman and Tim Ponzek
At Opus Fromus Label
BMI