Omar Akram encourages listeners to come with him on an exotic Secret Journey, an appropriate title for his new album since Akram's father was a United Nations Diplomat and the family lived in such diverse locales as the U.S., France, Cuba, Afghanistan and the Czech Republic. On this, his third CD for Real Music, strong melodies are presented within tapestry-like arrangements, Omar's acoustic grand piano interwoven with acoustic guitar, violin, duduk, flute and ethnic percussion, played by a group of world class musicians.

“I look around me and see people who are bored, restless, stagnant,” explains Akram, “and I know they often take ‘secret journeys’ in their minds, daydreaming about other places they could be. The lucky ones take actual trips where they escape from the pressures of their lives. They see new places and have new experiences. I like to think the music on my album can serve as the soundtrack for people's journeys, whether they are daydreams or actual trips. We all need to get away at times to rejuvenate and gain a fresh perspective.”

In addition to the title track “Secret Journey,” all of the tunes were inspired by what might be seen or felt during exotic travel. Some of the compositions capture the heritage of Omar’s distant Afghani ancestors -- “Caravan,” “Nomadic Rhapsody,” “Gypsy Spirit”. On such a journey you might see a distant lake-like “Mirage,” a “Shimmering Star” in the night’s blue-black heavens, or a rare and beautiful “Desert Flower.” Omar says “Seven Secrets” was influenced by ancient architecture like the Seven Wonders of the World but also references all the lost knowledge of past generations. “I want the music to be multi-cultural,” explains Akram, “and not be tied to a particular country.”

Often the best trips include romance, which is reflected on the new recording with “Run Away With Me,” “Passage of the Heart” (“Love can be quite a journey in itself,” says Omar.) and “Whispers in the Moonlight” -- shared intimacies between lovers or the sound of wind-shifting sand in the desert at night. The album closes with the gentle piano-violin duet “Angel of Hope” because, “In today’s world with all the war, famine, pollution and loneliness, everyone needs hope for a better future.”

On his first two albums, he was simply known as Omar but now he performs under his full name. Meanwhile, his music continues to change and develop. His first album was Opal Fire, which attained Top 15 on Billboard Magazine’s national New Age sales chart and featured Akram’s piano backed by additional keyboards played by Omar and David Dial. On his second CD Free as a Bird, Omar again composed all of the music but this time produced half the album and utilized top keyboardist Gregg Karukas to produce the other half. Omar also expanded his sound by bringing in guest musicians, including saxophonist Eric Marienthal (The Rippingtons). The recording was ranked the #2 contemporary instrumental album of the year by the prestigious Wind & Wire publication. Now on Secret Journey, Akram and Karukas are working together even closer by co-writing the music, which features rich textures and a variety of world music elements, including Latin and Mideastern. Omar continues to compose memorable melodies and has developed a close-knit interplay with the other musicians.

Each of Akram’s collaborators brings a wealth of talent and impressive credentials to the project. Gregg Karukas has a strong smooth jazz background, having played with or produced such chart-toppers as The Rippingtons, Peter White, Boney James, Richard Elliot and Dave Koz. Ramon Stagnaro returns on guitar and his credits include Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Kenny G, Andrea Bocelli, Luis Miguel and Alejandro Sanz. Pedro Eustache – once again on flute, duduk and Persian nay – has performed with Yanni, Paul McCartney, James Newton Howard and Andrae Crouch. Violinist Charlie Bisharat is known for playing with Kitaro, John Tesh, Tracy Chapman, Neil Diamond and Stone Temple Pilots. Percussionist Ron Wagner spent nine years with Ottmar Liebert, but also has performed with Stephane Grappelli, Peter Cetera, Richard Searles and Peppino D’Agostino. Also on Secret Journey is special guest acoustic guitarist Ardeshir Farah (on four tunes), best known for being part of the popular duo Strunz & Farah but who also has played with Al Stewart, L. Subramaniam and Cyrus Chestnut.

Growing up as a world traveler, Omar Akram was influenced by many cultures. Born in New York City while his father was representing Afghanistan at the United Nations, Omar was always fascinated by musical instruments and attended many symphony and ballet performances. At age six, he began taking piano lessons from a member of the Prague Symphony Orchestra, one of the top music teachers in the Czech Republic. His early influences were classical -- Bach, Mozart and Beethoven but soon the Russian school of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky and Shostakovich. When Omar was 14 and in Cuba, he chatted with Fidel Castro at a diplomatic reception. Omar’s curiosity for Cuban culture led him to local clubs where he talked the musicians into letting him sit in and play Cuban music with them, which is when he developed a love for Latin rhythms and Latin-styled acoustic guitar sounds.

Omar returned to the United States to attend high school and was introduced to the international electronic music of Jean Michel Jarre (France), Kitaro (Japan) and Vangelis (Greece), “which got me into synthesizers and new age music. That shifted everything, and I started composing.” A few years later Akram heard piano soloists such as George Winston and David Lanz, which brought him back to the piano. But Omar has far-ranging musical tastes and during those formative years he also listened to Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Prince. With a plan of following in his father's footsteps in the State Department, Akram attended the University of Maryland studying political science for nearly four years; however, a few credits shy of graduating, Omar realized he had to pursue his musical goals instead so he moved to Los Angeles in 1993 and began performing anywhere he could, whether solo piano gigs or in bars with Top 40 cover bands. He continued to travel, not only throughout the United States but also regularly to England and France as well.

Akram kept composing original music, but a turning point came when he met Dr. E. Mike Vasilomanolakis, a heart specialist who became his executive producer and encouraged him to begin recording. This material led to Omar’s signing with Real Music. In addition to his studio recordings, Akram also performs concerts. At the International Book Expo in Chicago, esteemed authors Deepak Chopra and Carolyn Myss saw Omar perform and became fans of his music. For the next two years, Myss had Omar return to Chicago every month to perform at her seminars in front of audiences of 500 to 700.

“Every culture I have encountered has influenced my music,” explains Omar. “Also reflected in my compositions are elements of my classical training, the early new age synthesists, and the melodic content I learned from solo pianists. I am trying to develop a deeper, closer interplay between the instruments, with counter melodies echoing melody lines and instrumental harmonies. I love collaborating with other musicians and hearing their fresh perspectives. I am totally open to new musical ideas. In a world where communication and understanding between cultures is sometimes difficult, I try to have the instruments speak to one another in a manner that crosses any cultural barriers.”

For more information about Omar Akram visit his website: www.OmarMusic.com