Terry Lee Nichols is known for his contributions to the new age and
contemporary instrumental world. The latest track released is “Finding Annie.”
The
track is a beautiful contemporary instrumental with its roots in classical
music. Terry's piano playing reflects that in the most eloquent way.
If
you note on the cover in smaller text, it reads, “Love is coming in 2024.” It
is a precursor to a full-length project available after we usher in the new
year.
If
“Finding Annie” indicates what is to come, then instrumental music enthusiasts
will have something to look forward to. I know I will, and I always enjoy the
music that Terry releases. His excellence and years of experience always set
high expectations of what will come next.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Founder
November 9, 2023
You
sometimes read the phrase "he/she was born to it" when describing how
a person came by their particular calling. Such is the case with Terry
Lee Nichols. By the time he was four, he had already decided that composing and
performing music was his true life's goal (discovered while playing popular
tunes on his grandmother's piano) …READ MORE…
Terry Lee Nichols has
released a significant piano-based instrumental recording. Metamorphosis takes the
listener on a worldly adventure. It is a story about humans and their history,
including migration and beginnings. To be more specific, he traced his
ancestors, which makes for an exciting recording. There is more to it than
that, but that is the general idea.
When you listen to the music on Terry's site, you can click on
the note beside the first track, and it will automatically tell the story of
each composition with artwork to accompany it. For instance, the joy in
"Grandma's Good Ol' Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits" is an upbeat, happy
tune.
As one would anticipate, the pace and color within each
composition mirror the track titles. The music is contemporary instrumental
with strong influences of classical and all its ebbs and tides. The combination
is stunning.
"Once Upon a Time" has a picture of a hand reaching
down in a wheat field, and to the right is inscribed "If I know what love
is, it is because of you." - Hermann
Hesse. It is a delicate track, as soft as the woman's hand in
the picture.
You will enjoy a multimedia presentation; everything fits
together. Music, art, and video are the perfect combination. However, a
talented artist must make this something new and fresh as it is commonplace.
Terry Lee accomplishes that quite successfully.
I also appreciated how touching some images were on
"Bedtime Stories." The music is perfect while taking the explanation
of Dad, an otherwise ordinary man, and turning him into a hero, storyteller,
and singer of songs. It makes you remember those precious moments of
child-rearing and those you may be fortunate enough to enjoy right now.
Terry Lee's piano is gorgeous, fluid, and very telling of each
storyline. The pictures will give a little nudge in figuring out why the music
flows. The piano playing is very intent on emotionally moving you; it certainly
did me. And you can tell the artist was in this heart and soul; you can feel it
with every touch of the keys. And that my music-loving friends are what I would
describe as prolific.
While I gave you a glimpse into what to expect, I will leave the
rest to each listener. It is essential to let you, the potential listener, find
the gifts in each offering. This music has happiness, pure joy, and sadness,
which is how it should be. It makes you pause and reflect on the meaning for
you.
Terry Lee does go through a Metamorphosis inside the music, and I believe
you can as well if you decide to follow along on his website here https://www.terryleenichols.com/metamorphosis.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Founder
April 25, 2023
Tracks:
01. Metamorphosis 04:16
02. Out of Eden 03:03
03. Let Us Rest Beside the Cool Waters 03:08
04. Grandma's Good Ol' Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits 02:06
The more you read about Terry Lee Nichols and his release The Pale Blue Dot the more interesting and intriguing it becomes. I have also had a fascination for space exploration and was reading astronomy books at a very young age. After looking at all the notes provided with this release, I anticipated an amazing aural ride through the cosmos. As it turned out that is exactly what I experienced.
On February 14, 1990, NASA's Voyager 1 probe snapped a photo of Earth from 3.7 billion miles (6 billion kilometers) away which was referred to as The Pale Blue Dot. There was a lot of excitement about all this and the music you will hear on this recording is as cinematic and beautiful as you would expect. It is about the voyage, the vastness of space, and the fact that here on earth we look like a lonely planet inside an endless universe of solar systems and galaxies.
The one I track I decided was my favorite and I added to my New Age Music Reviews Spotify Playlist was “Asteroids.” It is a lovely track filled with the foundation of classical piano and the sounds of space ending with whooshing and powerful sounds of an asteroid passing by.
I loved this on Terry’s website page where there is a media player to stream the entire album…
Mission Statement: In The Pale Blue Dot, I try to provide resonance to our ever-growing knowledge of who we are, where we came from, and what may help life on this planet continue well into the future. The language used is intended to celebrate scientific achievement in a way that fosters spiritual revelation, examines the social fabric of our species, and provides hope for our future.
That is a very prolific and meaningful thought process and the motivation behind this cinematic and thought-provoking (mostly) instrumental voyage through the stars.
“East of Eden (feat. Rebekah Eden)” is a gorgeous track with the addition of Rebekah Eden’s wordless vocals which serves as an added instrument. This is the story of Cain and Able. According to the book of Genesis, they were the first two humans born. Cain murdered Able, making him the first to die. Of course, there are more details to the storyline and the track is one of many shining moments on the recording.
Terry Lee’s piano playing is exquisite throughout in The Pale Blue Dot along with many layers of keyboards, sounds, and effects that complete each track and make it a full experience to reflect each title.
“Memories of Love” is a very touching song and when you see the accompanying picture on the media player it will melt your heart. On the other side of that, there is the absolute truth about “Global Warming,” which hits you hard when you see the picture of the melting and steaming earth. This is a scientific fact so don’t let the politicians in Washington ignoring this and saying it is not true or a hoax fool you. I think that most people with any sense of reality can see this happening with all the natural disasters across the globe. It is an epic track, to say the least, and yet another wake-up call. So, when we will ever wake up before it's gone too far and we commit genocide of the human race and all its inhabitants? It is a hard thing to watch knowing what the ultimate end will be if we do not take action and make it our priority. I do not want to see my grandkids going to Mars to live under a dome and our blue globe turning into a massive desert.
“The Pale Blue Dot (Train to Dachau Redux)” ends significantly with the voices of people from around the world. The solo narrative holds impact and truth based on the realities that we face and have always since our existence. And Carl Sagan says, it is “the only home we have ever known.” We should cherish, respect it, and take care of it for our future generations. The future is now, we are living it. Sometimes it takes a message like this to sink in and hit home and some incredibly moving music to push it all one step further. All things considered; The Pale Blue Dot is one of the most important releases of 2020.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck August 21, 2020
Track List: 01. In the Beginning... (Quantum Fluctuations) 02. Cosmic Dark Ages 03. First Stars 04. Stardust (Clouds of Gas and Dust) [feat. Rebekah Eden] 05. Asteroids 06. The Cambrian Explosion 07. East of Eden (feat. Rebekah Eden) 08. Child's Play 09. Memories of Love 10. Global Warming 11. The Pale Blue Dot (Train to Dachau Redux)
Terry
Lee Nichols first release has a very long and descriptive title. At Peace Beneath the Shade of My Father’s
Tree is a great title actually, and if you look at that title and the cover
of the CD, you can see a story. So without ever hearing the music there is
something happening. I would have to say that is a very good start.
Terry said: “I tried to create a soundscape/film score
backdrop that reflected specific events throughout my life.” That statement tends
to put it all into proper perspective for the listener.
There are 17 tracks that move along at a brisk pace. It
seemed like before I knew it I was on track 6. This is because I was really
enjoying what I was hearing. Being swept away by the music and hearing the
story narrated by all the instruments is a beautiful thing.
The title track opens the door to the great outdoors
pictured on the cover of the album. The music ushers in the atmosphere and sets
the tone like any good opener should. First impressions are everything when you
are listening to an album. I have always believed when you open that curtain to
your audience, you better make an impact real soon or you will lose them…Terry
Lee gets the job done. He captivates you and captures your spirit and
imagination. Personal experiences of joy and emotional pain bring about many
things and music can be the universal translator.
“Timekeeper” clocks in, no pun intended, at 3:07 and the
pace is like that of a watch keeping good time. The piano rolls along but ever
so delicately while bringing the listener to the end of the line in the most intentionally
gentle way. The ride goes by much too fast but you are so appreciative. Short
and sweet, this track makes a good impression from start to finish much like all
of its predecessors.
The musicianship is outstanding on this recording and it
definitely is the kind of quality music you would hear on a grade A film. It
also provides deep relaxation and a thought process that is more clear and
precise than you could have during a busy day at work. It is not easy to empty
out what is between your ears, and music such as this gives you carte blanche to
do so.
I have heard such gorgeous instrumental music this year, it
moves me, makes me reflective, grateful, happy, sad, reminiscent, basically the
entire range of human emotion is prompted to rise within me and the music is my
escort. That to me is the key to success with any recording.
“On My Way To See The Dancing Sisters Figg” is an upbeat
track with Celtic World flavor with a nod to the classical genre however it
ends up an amalgamation of them all and then becomes an instrumental new age
masterpiece. It is a short jaunt coming in at 2:57 but I felt an injection of
joy with a hint of the past smiling at me as it faded away. This was one of my
favorites for its sparkling movements and how it changed my melancholy mood
into joy in an instant. Once again the power of the music took me away and had
a strong influence on my senses and reaction to the vibrations.
“Sailing” is wonderful melody like a bright sunny day with
a clear blue sky and I did just sail away with it. It also gave me the gift of
freedom and spirituality. I always loved sailing on the lake with my father,
god rest his soul. Joy with a hint of sadness is what I felt but the thoughts
of freedom of the wind and waves gave me chills. It was all good so thank you
Terry Lee.
At
Peace Beneath the Shade of My Father’s Tree is real triumph for the
maiden voyage of artist Terry Lee Nichols. Putting out something so inspired
and precise for a first album is an amazing accomplishment. The future
certainly looks bright for this gentleman.
4.5/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: At Peace Beneath the Shade of My Father’s Tree, Timekeeper, On My Way
To See The Dancing Sisters Figg
Tracks: 01. At Peace Beneath the Shade of My Father's Tree 02. Only You 03. Follow Me 04. Reflections 05. Appassionato 06. Timekeeper 07. Train to Dachau 08. Pamela's Time 09. On My Way To See The Dancing Sisters Figg 10. A Winter's Tale 11. Sailing 12. Crossroads 13. A Curious Life 14. Last Train Home 15. Autumn 16. Lullaby 17. Requiescat
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