Release Date: October 10, 2025
Label: Independent
After years of hearing this kind of music, my interpretation of it has changed into something I can express in words, but not to its fullest extent. You can only express so much with a word; however, feelings, emotions, or passing thoughts cannot always be put into proper context. I like to call it contemporary new age instrumental with a classic underpinning.
Barry DeGroot is one of those rare individuals who has captured everything I have expressed about instrumental piano music on his album Unspoken Conversations. The influence of classical music is more than apparent and a critical foundation from which every composition is born and reaches fruition.
Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of solo piano music,
where each note conjures up a myriad of thoughts, images, colors, and memories.
The piano’s notes are not just sounds; they are an entire orchestra within an
orchestra, creating a rich listening experience.
“Serenity” is the perfect opening track as it moves along
slowly, like a gentle stream of water bubbling up from a spring. Its notes
float over your consciousness with seamless effort. It feels like the beginning
of energy focused on total relaxation or a meditative state.
“Reminiscent” is such a prolific title. It holds a lifetime of
memories. In one breath, you can say the word; however, there is an entire book
to be written inside it. How can one instrument convey that kind of mindset or
imagery? That is not an easy task, but Barry’s melody sufficiently captures the
sentiment and the whole meaning.
“Clever Conversation” is a track that needs to be animated
because of its implications. Conversing is what people do all over the world,
and being clever is not something everyone can be. It is the longest track at
4:04 and rightly so. In the grand scheme of things, a conversation in under
five minutes is short; however, in song, it goes into another category
entirely. The piano’s melody and timing make it feel as if it’s speaking to you
through the elegance of the musician and the sounds emanating from the keys.
Hence, the meaning of the album itself!
“Somewhere” has a light-hearted, joyful feeling. You are neither
here nor there; you are on your own somewhere where you exist in the moments of
listening to this music. In between those places, it is tuneful and consistent,
with abbreviated transitions alongside the main melody.
“While You’re Here,” listening to the Unspoken Conversations,
there is a lot to be said via the piano’s keys. Thanks to Barry and his
talented fingers, we can be reached this way. I heard a call to action in this
piece even though its tempo was soft and slow, like a beautiful waltz of the
fingers across the keyboard. The dance plays out in your mind’s eye.
“The Pendulum” swings back and forth, indicative of consistent
change. That factor is present in this music. The shifting tempos add depth to
the piano’s ambiance as the artist blends high and low notes, creating a sense
of beauty like a ballerina dancing across the inside of your mind. She sways
back and forth as the notes echo off each other.
“All That Was” is now behind you in this listening experience.
This will be musical expressions that you will not forget. This last track
takes a slow walk and briefly picks up the pace to remind you of the power and
movement of a single instrument. It is a fitting end to a marvelous exploration
of the piano keys.
Barry DeGroot takes the singularity of the piano and broadens the scope of every note on Unspoken Conversations. This is a solo piano recording that you must hear to understand and appreciate what has been accomplished.
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Review Founder
October
27, 2025
Tracks:
1. Serenity (3:38)
2. Reminiscent (3:38)
3. Clever Conversation (4:04)
4. Somewhere (3:02)
5. While You’re Here (2:05)
6. The Pendulum (3:24)
7. All That Was (3:24)
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