Contemporary Instrumental Review: RH Fox-Painting in The Dark

 An Evocative, Lyrics-Free Journey That Speaks Directly to the Soul 

Painting in the Dark marks the debut of RH Fox, a classically trained artist, composer, and photographer who channels visual inspiration into cinematic, contemporary instrumental music.

After one listen, it was easy to see how the cover art aligned with the music.

“Follow the Creek” begins with a lovely tinkling piano intro, then quickly develops into layers of keys, with a violin added for elegance. The music transitions beautifully from one tempo to the next, and the keys shift accordingly. An atmospheric and picturesque beginning that reflects the album artwork's beautiful pastel coloring.

“Reflections of Yesterday” continues the musical flow, underpinned by classic runs on the keys, mixed with a contemporary new-age flavor and color. It is both uplifting and reflective as the piece gathers momentum.

“The Mystic” opens with a gorgeous, wordless vocal that is very short but effective, ushering in the music with the elegance evident in every note. Once again, the violin adds its beauty and reinforces how great a partner it is for keyboard accompaniment. An acoustic guitar arrives with a Latin/Gypsy flavoring for a short time. As it progresses, it becomes more colorful and enigmatic and a direct reflection of the track title. Excellent!

“Passage of Time” gives you pause to reflect, as the title may suggest. A soft piano leads the way, with the strings providing a longing accompaniment. It is musical cinema with drama and a touch of sadness that only time can properly form in your mind and heart. Moving and emotive with dark and light passages.

How does one begin “Painting in the Dark”? I think it’s a term about how music can be so expressive, taking a blank canvas and creating something meaningful without words. As with instrumental music, it shares the same concept of a work of art, interpreted through what the eyes see and what the painted picture evokes in everyone. The keys are simply beautiful and affecting here, as other layered synth-based sounds enter the mix to support the melody, creating a complete composition.

“Magic of the Moment” takes on a different tempo and color. This is the longest track, which is nearly 4 minutes. With the softness of the keys and perfectly placed simple acoustic guitar notes, the moment becomes magical, like the ease and grace of a river flowing into the sea, with nothing to impede its progress. Treasure your moments because they disappear as quickly as they arrive.

“Visions Never Seen” can be interpreted as something esoteric, held within the mind’s eye, accessible only to you. The keys invite you to look inward and let the energy flow, much like they float off the artist’s fingers. The sound of chimes blowing in the wind is like a door opening for you to walk through; the music creates a beautiful road to get there.

“Crane Dance” carries a lovely melody from start to finish. The keys transition back and forth from a steady flow to a more pragmatic, thoughtful pace. This is music for relaxing, meditating, or reflecting on your day. In the same instance, it may push you into another time and place that you remember as significant in your life, bringing a smile to your heart or a tear to your eye. This music can take you anywhere you want to go.

“Free as a Bird” may remind you of its release as a finished product with The Beatles. With John Lennon gone, it was a tribute to his soul being free from the confines of this earth and physical form. The melody was recognized instantly, and I appreciated the different roads the keys took, like an improvisational off-ramp for further exploration of the human condition. This is excellent!

As the recording ends, “Seabirds' Lament” takes you on one last journey of musical excellence and beauty. The keys are a powerful instrument of light and melody, and the acoustic guitar notes add a different ambiance. As each passage of the composition shifts into tempos of thought and images, your emotions take hold and carry you somewhere else. Like the wings of the bird flying over the sea, your journey of discovery continues, and the best part is you don’t have to land; just keep flying on this gorgeous instrumental music.

RH Fox’s Painting in the Dark invites you on a journey through thoughts, colors, and emotions, offering a welcome escape from the demands of daily life. The calming tones and carefully crafted melodies gently rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit, delivering a sense of peace and renewal. Free from the constraints of lyrics, the music speaks directly to the soul—reminding us that sometimes, the most profound stories are told without words.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Founder

July 15, 2026

Contemporary Instrumental Review & Interview: Lisa Swerdlow-Book of Life Concerto

Release Date:  August 15, 2025

Label: Independent

Website

Many of the piano-based instrumentals I hear are like a concerto. I have often said it’s the one instrument that can sound like a symphony all by itself.

Lisa Swerdlow is one of those artists whose work I have cherished over the years. The arrival of her latest masterpiece, the Book of Life Concerto, filled me with a profound emotional anticipation.

 

The best way to describe this music is to hear it from the artist. Lisa said, “As a composer, I am tasked with the responsibility of synthesizing grand concepts into sound and the emotions that these musical notes evoke. Everyone has a ‘Book of Life’ to be told. . . This is mine.”

 

“Chapter One: Possibilities” serves as a reminder that life is full of possibilities, even though we do not know the outcome until we reach it. And with that thought, we can view it as an exciting and anticipatory experience.

 

The piano sets the tone for this book, with a slow progression that leads to the addition of other instruments, such as the violin. It is theatrical halfway through, then the tempo goes down a bit to encourage you to reflect more. It returns to apexes repeatedly, leading you through the emotions that are part of looking at life's possibilities.

 

“Chapter Two: Disappointments” is all part of life. During the process of possibilities, this can happen often enough for a person to be discouraged. The beginning is very thought-provoking as the piano pulls you in ever so gently, and the orchestrations and cello give a hint of sadness. Outside the grey areas of life, there lies hope and optimism, and that is a simple decision to make instead of wallowing in the disappointments. How many times was Thomas Edison disappointed before he had success? It’s all in how you paint the picture on life’s canvas. The piano is elegant and moving, capturing the essence of all those feelings.

 

“Chapter Three: Discoveries” rings with excitement and joy as the piano immediately begins in an upbeat tempo, then it quiets down as the cello enters, inducing more reflection on the subject matter at hand. Again, the music reaches a crescendo with orchestration, accompanied by dramatic cymbals that sound off for added effect. The piano is beautiful, leading the listener to a higher plane of consciousness and a more profound realization of that discovery (whatever it may be in your mind's eye).

 

“Track Four: Through It All” transitions you from the book chapter format to a shift in focus with compositions to encapsulate your previous experiences in the prior compositions. Many thoughts encompass “it all,” thus the piano takes on that emotion as it flows like the tides of the ocean, coming in and going out. There is a real talent at work here to imagine all of this happening within the keys of the piano. Lisa’s elegance and precision with her fingers make every note count so beautifully.

 

“Track Five: Dawn Contemplation” is the final step, where you weave all the feelings, thoughts, and images into a single thread and reflect on and reexamine them. As she has this entire recording, the piano serves as a guide, taking you to a place where everything can unfold simply by contemplating. The orchestrations that accompany her lovely notes, which range from many highs to lows, serve as the final trigger to engagement and gently invite you to look forward, process all those feelings, and usher in the dawn of a new day.

 

The Book of Life Concerto resonated with me on a deeply personal level, as if it were the soundtrack of my own life. Lisa Swedlow’s compositions seemed to narrate my story as I listened, evoking raw emotions due to the recent loss of our beloved dog. Those who have experienced the bond with a furry family member will understand, and even if you haven’t, the emotional journey is one that anyone can relate to.

 

Music, mainly instrumental pieces like the Book of Life Concerto, has a unique ability to heal and transform. Each time I immerse myself in piano-based music, I embark on a journey that nourishes my mind, body, and spirit, offering a sense of comfort and hope.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder

August 15, 2025

Tracks:

Chapter One: Possibilities (4:38)

Chapter Two: Disappointments (4:34)

Chapter Three: Discoveries (4:25)

Track Four: Through It All (3:24)

Track Five: Dawn Contemplation (4:23)

Contemporary Instrumental Review: Doug Hammer-Swim to America, Vol. 2 (une rétrospective Stephan Eicher au piano)

Release Date: September 22, 2023

Label: ‎ Independent

Website

“Swim to America, Vol. 2 (une rétrospective Stephan Eicher au piano) is Doug Hammer's second installment of a three-part series from the original music of Stephan Eicher. I found the first volume enjoyable and anticipate feeling the same regarding this release. Vol. 3 is expected to be released next year.

 

"Confettis" starts the proceedings in a very bright and upbeat manner. The arrangement is fast-moving and simply a delight for the senses, setting up the listener for a complete journey through the piano's keys.

 

"Pas d'ami (comme toi)" begins in a more subdued way, then proceeds to pick up the pace. Doug's brilliance on the keys shines bright as he picks up the melody and delivers the bass with one hand and the lead with the other. Doug's talented fingers bring both parts of the song to your ears. I like the skill and variety of his compositions. 

 

"Combien de temps" is another excellent example of how solo piano can hold your attention by sounding utterly different than the previous track. There are never any similarities that I can hear. There are a few parts where Doug shows his talents with that rapid rolling of the keys, which sounds fantastic.

 

What continually gets my attention consistently is the flow and clarity of every track. Also, the artwork on the cover cleverly shows the artist getting caught in the rising surf. This is the metaphor related to the title. And interestingly, I find myself swimming in the music; my entire person is surrounded and consumed by the rhythm and beauty. 

 

As things move further into the tracks, like on "Wider Da," I heard the sentiment and sadness in the music. I can listen to a story being played inside my mind and how it's affecting my feelings. It is simpler than previous tracks, however, very purposeful, thus the space in the music to reflect. As I have often said, I found the beauty in the sadness.

 

"Rien n'est si bon" is a gorgeous composition based on classical (as all this music is) with a convergence of contemporary with the pace of a slow walk in the park while you breathe in the cool air as the sun sets beyond in the mountains. It is dramatic yet picturesque.

 

All those tracks offer a mental escape from reality and continue to the end. There is nothing wrong with taking the time to let the music remove you from your current state or mindset, if you will. The music you will hear is unique because it is simply piano and with no need for lyrics. The passion with which they are presented and played will have you going back for another listen to revisit all the emotions and mostly good feelings you can experience. 

 

Thirteen tracks, all stand-alone stories, are played perfectly. After covering Doug Hammer's music for so many years now, it is no surprise how much I appreciate this wonderful music and must come to expect a certain level of excellence. For my ears, this is what I needed to hear.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Founder

September 8, 2023

Tracks:

01. Confettis 3:45

02. Pas d’ami (comme toi) 3:06

03. Combien de temps 3:24

04. Rivière 3:40

05. Wider Da 3:08

06. Rien n'est si bon 3:40

07. Clear My Throat 4:25

08. Je n’attendrai pas 2:16

09. Monsieur - Je ne sais pas trop 3:07

10. Rêverie 4:23

11. Où Sont Les Clés ? 4:04

12. Du 2:34

13. Wie Einem Der Gewissheit Hat 2:21

Contemporary Instrumental Review: Masako-Hidden Flowers

Release Date: May, 25, 2020

Label: Independent

Website
I appreciate having a history with an artist, especially one that I can fully appreciate. This is the third Masako recording I have had the honor of covering.

Before the latest Hidden Flowers, I can reach back to 2017 with Piano Sanctuary and to 2019

with Underwater Whisperer.Knowing how much I enjoyed the previous of this talented piano player, it was just a matter of letting the music play. Then once it begins the process of it melting into my soul comes easy and naturally.

Hidden Flowers has twelve tracks of Masako leading the way with her flowing and concise piano style. Once again, the chemistry of recording at Will Ackerman’s studio comes through with the artist going from strength to strength. All production was by Ackerman, Tom Eaton, and Masako.

I think what I always admire the most with Masako is that she handles each composition as an individual piece of art. And even though the approach is that singularly focused, it comes together as one cohesive recording.
 
Tracks like “Observing M31” are light and airy featuring some lovely vocals and some rolling rhythmic piano playing along with some EWI from Premik Russell Tubbs (it sounds like a nice woodwind flute) to give it that extra layer of spice and texture. It is one of the many stand out tracks you will hear on Hidden Flowers.

Then with tracks like “Southbound Flyway,” which are filled with colorful and lively rhythms, which endeavor then succeed to paint a picture. Then you have Jeff Oster’s flugelhorn enhancing the mix to help create that scenery within the mind’s eye. It is undoubtedly the piano that always leads the way however the additional instruments make the tracks more whole and adventurous for potential listeners.

Tracks of beauty are perfected through the ivory keys and presented beautifully on Hidden Flowers. I think the title of the recording my suggest that flowers are hidden within in each song for you, the individual listener, to discover. I stopped to smell their fragrance and elegance once again through the talented fingers of Masako.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
May 18, 2020

Track List:
01.  Harajuku Memoir
02.  Age of Flowers
03.  Acadia
04.  Remember the Rainy Day
05.  Blossom River
06.  Observing M31
07.  Forgiving
08.  Eternal Bliss
09.  Southbound Flyway
10. Suddenly Cherry Blossoms
11.  Winter People
12. Central Park Retreat 


Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews