Pure Joy
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 4.5
Midwest Record Recap
Quite frankly, it's about time this guy got some props. Making some great chamber music at Windham Hill that didn't fit the format once it started to gel, he was one of the first acts dropped after Linda Waterfall. From there it was an under appreciated stop at Narada. So, here we are 20 years later, he's no longer a smart tyro and really flexes some great adult chops. Moving to the head of the line as the oboe player that's going to be a brand name, with this engaging, energetic release. If you've been overdosing on smooth sax but like the vibe, this is the diversion you've been waiting for. - Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap, July 02
Solo Piano Productions
Russel Walder’s debut on Real Music is a wonderful surprise from many angles. Half of the very successful team of Ira Stein and Russel Walder, the piano/oboe duo had two hits on Windham Hill in the ‘80’s and a release on Narada’s Sonia Gaia label in 1990. They then parted ways, and pianist Ira Stein formed his trio. I hadn’t seen anything more about Russel Walder until this new release, “Pure Joy”. Oboe as the principal instrument sounded like it could be kind of awful, but it is instead rather awesome! All of the nine tracks are ensemble works that include piano, keyboards, guitar, vocals, and strings, but Walder’s oboe sings with and soars above them all in a marvelous mix. The pastel yellow cover art with a guy literally jumping for joy made me think that this might be a really fluffy album, but it is anything but fluff. With a multitude of influences, “Pure Joy” is expressed as the joy that comes from deep within and lasts - not a momentary burst of exhilaration. Drawing on faith, love, grace, and a sea of emotion, Walder paints his portrait of joy with tinges of sadness and melancholy, as joy never remains as an absolute. To weep tears of joy, one must experience tears of pain and sorrow, and Walder’s music conveys both with a profound depth of emotion. This is a great album, and I highly recommend it! It is available from most of the online music dealers and www.realmusic.com.” - Kathy Parsons, Solo Piano Publications, July 2002