Embracing The Wind
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 3.8
Solo Piano Productions
"Most of the pieces on Embracing the Wind are upbeat and sunny, but my favorite is "Childhood Remembered," which is melancholy and nostalgic. Joining Kern on this track is Bay Area violinist Jeremy Cohen, whose heart-tugging solo clearly demonstrates why synth strings will never replace the beauty and poignancy of the real thing. Guitarist Davis Ramey joins Kern on "Through Your Eyes" (another favorite!), "Bathed in Dawn’s’"and "A Secret Grove." Some of the other highlights include the opening track "Blossom On the Wind" which, as the title implies, gently floats and glides. "Above theClouds" is very spare, but gorgeous - it reminds me a bit of some of Yanni’s minimalist pieces with synth and piano. "Fantasia’s Lullaby" is also very lovely, filled with the warmth and joy of a new life. "A Gentle Whisper" is a peaceful closing to an album that could easily be compared to a watercolor painting - washes of many colors without hard edges or defining lines." Kathy Parsons, Solo Piano Publications
Music Design In Review
"Soft, inviting original piano pieces set against a background of gentle guitar and symphonic ambience creates an uplifting mood that instantly sweeps listeners away." ~ Music Design
New Age Retailer
Using piano lines over broken-chord arpeggios and luscious synth strings, Kevin Kern composes soothing instrumentals of peace and tranquillity. Bamboo chimes open the concert for the springtime “Blossoms on the Wind” with piano and synth-orchestra. “Through Your Eyes” features the smooth acoustic guitar of Davis Ramey, while Jeremy Cohen’s violin provides a soulful and innocent recollection in “Childhood Remembered.” Especially poignant and meaningful is the matrimonial “From This Day Forward” in honor of Kern’s recent wedding. Composing in a world of heightened sounds, Kern exquisitely describes pictures in his mind with his lyrical music, earning him regular appearances on New Age sales charts with more than 400,000 albums sold. New Age Retailer September 2001
New Age Voice
Kevin Kern has a great ear for composing his piano melodies so they seem to lightly float into air before landing ever so gently within earshot. It’s as if his approach seems to be to tantalize the listener with small, sweet refrains before enlarging the scope of the action with the accompaniment of synclavier, violin, and acoustic guitar. The arrangements by Johnny Marshall are indeed tasteful and they highlight the original framework sketched out by the piano. When the other instruments come in, they complement the piano part in a way that opens up the melody by letting it travel through these instruments and add something through the presence of their sounds. It is a small ensemble utilized to maximum effect. Drawing his inspiration from a variety of sources, from encounters with nature to his fiancée, Kern has an ability to compose melodies that suggest the smell and feel of things as well as their sound. The track “Blossom on the Wind,” “A Gentle Whisper,” and “Bathed in Dawn’s Light” are great examples of this. If you have enjoyed Kern’s previous albums, this will be another you will savor many times over. If you are not familiar with his work, this is a fine place to start. The sense of harmony and beauty he expresses in his music will ad a welcome dimension to your environment. -DL New Age Voice August 2001
New Age Voice
Engaging piano and keyboards for his quintessential release, Kevin Kern offers one of the sweetest releases of the year. His four previous titles have sold 400,000 copies, a tribute to the beauty and grace of his music and his soothing soundscapes. Kern’s piano sketches the melody lines with keyboard synths supplying beds of sensuous and dreamy harmonies, while broken chords fill the bass clef. “Through Your Eyes” and “Bathed in Dawn’s Light” are highlighted with the gentle acoustic guitar of Davis Ramey. Jeremy Cohen’s violin adds a unique texture to reflections of “Childhood Remembered.” Though Kern lives in a world different from that of the fully sighted, his ability to translate sights, sounds and feelings into gorgeous melodies is heightened and more sensitive. In a romantic glimpse into his personal life, Kern shares a piece written for his wife-to-be prior to their June wedding in “From This Day Forward.” Frequently appearing on Billboard’s chart, Kern’s recordings are among the best piano/keyboard contemporary instrumental albums available. Ted Cox, New Age Voice Magazine, July 2001