Bridget Wolf

"Bridget Wolf's music reminds us of time when we lived as keepers of the land in harmony with "Our Lady," mother nature. Wolf takes us back to a time when we danced with the spirits of plants and animals to welcome the seasons, to exalt in the light of the full moon and to give thanks for the elements from which we came--wind, earth, water and fire. Her phrasing tells of a time when we knew no rhythm so well as our own heartbeat. Wolf's sensual voice resonates with love in a range that expresses not only the maiden's laughter and the woman's confidence in the integrity of her art, it hints as well of her struggle to transcend self and reach beyond death. The fruits of Wolf's spiritual journey are planted in this album. Her message is clear. One is left deeply moved, open to contemplate the direction we are taking if we try to transcend our primitive roots in nature.

But lest I give the impression that Wolf's album is only an intellectual treat for New Agers and reviewers like myself who seek more meaning from music than I do from philosophy, I hasten to add that it is a thing of beauty and inspiration. Wolf's self-produced album is a truly joyful offering of heartfelt music. Her poetic confidence, the intensity and modulation of her feelings, her honesty and simplicity, her mastery of mood, her melodic invention are remarkable. And although this album is Wolf's first production, her craftmanship is solid. Her talent is steady and certain. She not only sings and accompanies herself on synthesizer, drums, rattles or piano on every song; she composed and arranged all the pieces on the album. Wolf is a true virtuoso."

Robert S. Powell - SOSOS Monthly Journal
- SOSOS Monthly Journal

"Bridget Wolf's songs evoke life, with all its joy and pain, grace and inspiration. But they are mostly about love. They invite us to meditate and to dance.

From the moment she takes the stage, we know we are in good hands. We can sit back, relax, and let the music wash over us.

Her instrumentals evoke deep emotion. She plays with strength and gentleness at the same time. In the music, water runs over great rocks beneath. Her rhythms twist and turn, rock and sway. At times they halt, just like life does, then move on in a different direction.

Then she sings, her voice a throwback to the torch singers of another generation--rich, full, straightforward with a touch of jazz and blues. She uses it to bring a sense of play to her original songs. They're filled with wordplay and instruction. At times they feel like children's songs written for adults, the type we all need. They remind us to respect the earth and ourselves. They invite us to sing along and call to our better selves.

Bridget sings and plays with a freedom that frees us as we listen."

Teresa Williams, Oregon writer
- Inside Out Mystical Publishing

Talent songwriter honored in UK contest
Bridget Wolf of Talent releases her second CD

By John Darling
For the Tidings
September 17, 2009

For Bridget Wolf of Talent, writing and performing her award-winning music is a doorway to feeling more connected to life and nature — with lyrics that are so optimistic and encouraging that she's been welcomed to sing them in many Unity Churches.

Wolf, 42, recently released her second CD, "Love Transforms" — and her song "I'll Never Forget You," a piano solo inspired by a breakup, was chosen as a finalist in the instrumental category of the UK Songwriting Contest, meaning it finished in the top 2 percent of 6,000 entries.

Two of her other songs were honored. "Let's Make the Difference" was a semi-finalist in the Adult Contemporary category and "Life is Precious," inspired by a friend considering suicide, was a semi-finalist in the Christian/Faith category. They are on her just-released CD "Love Transforms."

Semi-finalist means they ranked in the top 30 percent.

"I'm so excited! I don't have words for how I feel. I burst into tears when I found out," says Wolf.

The soft-spoken and enthusiastic Wolf keeps a "Measure What You Treasure" chart in her living room, per the instructions of her business coach, noting that, since July 1, she sold 32 CDs, did 18 performances and had 587 people attend her performances - at the Eugene Saturday Market, and New Thought Churches, such as the Center for Spiritual Living in Central Point and Unity Churches in Ashland, Medford, Grants Pass, Corvallis and Bandon.

Wolf, a native of Minnesota and a music graduate of that state's Carleton College, found her "uplifting and empowering" approach to music from parents, who taught her those ways of living and, despite their own upbringing in poverty, devoted themselves to travel, concerts, dance and music lessons and other enrichments for their children, she says.

"My parents helped me with optimism. My dad has a truly optimistic outlook. My mom was a painter who taught us to look more deeply."

Wolf's haunting piano solos, especially one called "Autumn 83," bring back instant memories of the Wyndham Hill instrumentals by George Winston. Composed before she heard that label's popular works, it is "deeply connected with the pulse of life, with living, breathing nature and life force energy.

"That music was a wave"»that nourished people at a really deep level and still does."

Her "I'll Never Forget You," from 1993, is an extension of that tradition and is the song most of her followers have listed as their favorite, Wolf said. It's also been used in local dance classes.

Wolf says her main influences, whose footprints can be found through her music, have been a wild mix of Julie Andrews, Joan Baez, Enya, Alison Krauss and Loreena McKennitt — and the result could variously be called "earthy folk songs, bluesy songs for evening, sexy, sultry torch songs and chanting-drumming."

"I love all kinds of music, even rap songs," said Wolf singing a few bars of her rap song "You Gotta Do Your Thing."

"I will write in any style that moves me," says Wolf. Her penchant for writing church-suitable music reminds her of Bach, who "was a great improviser, who composed church music every week. During meditation in church, I feel it and know where to go for the keys."

The lyrics of her inspirational songs are straightforward positive affirmations of life.

"Let's Make the Difference" has these words: "I choose to be the change I wish to see in the world today / I choose to unite with all loving hearts / I choose to share all the gifts I've been given / I choose to live my life fully now / Cause all life matters! Yes it does."

Her "Life is Precious" says, "It's a miracle of creation / And you, you've been made specially / None can take your place / There is only one you."

Wolf says she's a healer and uses music in her sessions to reach and release feelings at a deeper level. She also gives music lessons and is available for performances by calling 512-8862. Her Web site is www.bridgetwolf.com.

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http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090917/NEWS02/909170321 - Ashland Daily Tidings