Something Real:
This song represents the importance of relationships
in life, especially family and friends. Ultimately,
for me, the basis for meaning in life comes from sharing
the ups and downs of life with those closest to me.
Reflections:
This title cut came to me over an extended period
of time—about two years. The verses were crafted
tightly over time while the middle section is the
product of an improvisation that came to me while
playing a live performance.
Alma: Alma
is the Spanish word for soul. I wrote this piece after
a trip to Mexice. This tune in A minor is my attempt
to musically capture the rugged and beautiful terrain
of Central Mexico.
Remembrance:
I like to think of this song as a musical memory of
my childhood. I grew up in the beautiful and rugged
Sierra Nevadas of Northern California and when I hear/play
this song I often think of that special place.
Secret Places:
This was the last piece I wrote for this project.
This was one of those songs on which I wrote myself
into a corner. Sometimes as I write music, I will
get to a place where I feel like I can’t complete
the song. The last minute of this track was something
I improvised in the studio on the last day of recording.
For me, Secret Places isn’t necessarily a physical
place, but rather a place you didn’t know existed.
And somehow you find yourself pleasantly surprised
when you arrive there through no design of your own.
Forgotten Dreams:
This is one of my personal favorites. This is actually
the first real piece of music I composed on the piano
at the age of fourteen, though it wasn’t quite
in this form. I began working on this project in earnest
in the fall of 2001, fifteen years after I had written
this song! Dreams, even forgotten ones, can become
a reality when we remember them again.
After the Fall:
This title represents a loss of innocence. Though
written in a major key, it is intended to be a bit
of a sad song. After the Fall has multiple meanings
that will be left for the listener to discover.
Once and Again:
This is probably the most classically influenced track
on the album. It was inspired by Chopin’s Prelude
in E Minor as well as other early Chopin pieces.
