Michael Halaas

"Dramatic, passionate, soaring and epic. This is the epitome of
classically-informed new age where sophistication and artistry are
held no less important." - CDBaby"

"Thunderous, well-composed, and skillfully played. The Lucidity Project manages to range over a plethora of moods while maintaining, through the mountain-air clarity of the piano, a sound of its own and a distinct artistic vision." - Stephen Fruitman, Sonomu.net

Enter Michael Halaas' musical world, and you might get the feeling that you're in the presence of a phenomenon. His unique brand of richly-layered compositions evidences the deep stirrings within."
-Eluusive Magazine

#1 track [Passing Ships]. Love FM (76,1MHz Fukuoka/82.7 MHz Kitakzyushu/82.5 MHz FukuokaNishi) - Fukuoka, Japan

Halaas' playing seems to require a much louder, denser instrument than the acoustic piano -- and yet he makes due with it, playing with the same juggernaut intensity as Vladimir Horowitz"
-Intermission Magazine

[Halaas] has transformed sound into a powerful art form, capable of forcing listeners to look deeply into themselves.
-Stanford Daily

Nobody plays with as much thunder and imperative.
-Amazon.com review

A great composer of our time. Michael easily ranges from ferocity to tranquility with amazing adroitness.
-Amazon.com review

A Brilliant Pianist"
-Bayscene.com
REVIEWS!
Click here to write a review about this CD!

Beautiful and relaxing
Reviewer: Amanda O'Hare
My brother recommended this to me because I was looking for good music to put on as I fed my daughter and rocked her to sleep. I am not sure who loves it more, me or her!! I am a great lover of both the cello and the piano and the CD contains a wonderful amalgamation of both instruments as well as a spattering of voices throughout. It really is a beautiful CD.

Moving, complex; truly amazing
Reviewer: Chris O'Hare
The Lucidity Project has become one of my family's new favorites, and I think it will remain one of my favorites in the years to come. It is well balanced; both energetic and swift in places, and smooth and calm in others. I love the rich complexity of the piano and cello blending easily with electronic noises. The occasional voices were a surprise, but nice. I listen to this CD almost every night, often starting at a random track. Unlike most classical cds I've heard, this is never overwhelming or too soft to hear, which means that I can listen to it in quiet environments (at work, feeding our baby), but it won't put me to sleep. This is one of the few cds that I can honestly recommend to everybody.

Ludovico Einaudi meets Gorecki Symphony No3
Reviewer: Simon Gibson (UK)
Uplifting, haunting, passionate this has it all in a simply beautiful CD. I love it.


Reviewer: Travis Wonders
I've never found an instrumental album this good. Every note just oozes with emotion...and the cello and violin blend so well with the piano in peices that are truely breathtaking. Michael Halaas is passionate about his work, and his music shows. It doesn't get better then this.

Absolutely Brilliant!!
Reviewer: Kristin Dexter
The fluidity between Michael's amazing piano playing and the passionate cellist speak a beautiful, unique language that is all their own. Sometimes I just have to listen to this CD for hours on end, and it's especially great when having to do hours of homework. Wonderful for college students who are tired of everyday music, and hunger for something more. I wouldn't trade this CD for anything in the world.

Where to begin ? I listened as if my ears were new Instruments.
Reviewer: Roy Evans
The combinations and mixes were superb ! The technical skill of all players was very apparent. The depth of the textures were astounding. Please, let there be an encore.

Great compositions and performance
Reviewer: Yiling Huang
I love the music that each note speaks, very powerful and dynamic. Very talented artists!

Profound and beautiful.
Reviewer: Elaine Stirling
The Lucidity Project is profound and beautiful. It's my CD of choice for the car stereo to keep me sane, centered and inspired in traffic.

A fabulous cd! Purchased two more for friends.
Reviewer: Marilyn Barry
A great cd to relax to. I recommend this cd for anyone who wants to relieve stress.


Reviewer: CD Baby
Grammy-nominated cellist, Joan Jeanrenaud, of the famous Kronos Quartet, sings through these songs, weaving his tumbling, river-like cello tone through fluid tapestries of classical, new age and jazz language. Dramatic, passionate, soaring and epic, these pieces dance through the imagination, calling up expansive landscapes, mountain ranges, and tender moments between lovers. This is the epitome of classically-informed new age where sophistication and artistry are held no less important. Like a soundtrack in need of a movie.

Introducing a new language!
Reviewer: Frank Jackson, Sunjada Productions
Each artist is unique, and it is his responsibilit - various / cdbaby

A different sound all totgether
Reviewer: George Poe
This one struck me as totally different. Hauntingly beautiful.

Beautiful and relaxing
Reviewer: Amanda O'Hare
My brother recommended this to me because I was looking for good music to put on as I fed my daughter and rocked her to sleep. I am not sure who loves it more, me or her!! I am a great lover of both the cello and the piano and the CD contains a wonderful amalgamation of both instruments as well as a spattering of voices throughout. It really is a beautiful CD.

Moving, complex; truly amazing
Reviewer: Chris O'Hare
The Lucidity Project has become one of my family's new favorites, and I think it will remain one of my favorites in the years to come. It is well balanced; both energetic and swift in places, and smooth and calm in others. I love the rich complexity of the piano and cello blending easily with electronic noises. The occasional voices were a surprise, but nice. I listen to this CD almost every night, often starting at a random track. Unlike most classical cds I've heard, this is never overwhelming or too soft to hear, which means that I can listen to it in quiet environments (at work, feeding our baby), but it won't put me to sleep. This is one of the few cds that I can honestly recommend to everybody.

Ludovico Einaudi meets Gorecki Symphony No3
Reviewer: Simon Gibson (UK)
Uplifting, haunting, passionate this has it all in a simply beautiful CD. I love it.


Reviewer: Travis Wonders
I've never found an instrumental album this good. Every note just oozes with emotion...and the cello and violin blend so well with the piano in peices that are truely breathtaking. Michael Halaas is passionate about his work, and his music shows. It doesn't get better then this.

Absolutely Brilliant!!
Reviewer: Kristin Dexter
The fluidity between Michael's amazing piano playing and the passionate cellist speak a beautiful, unique language that is all their own. Sometimes I just have to listen to this CD for hours on end, and it's especially great when having to do hours of homework. Wonderful for college students who are tired of everyday music, and hunger for something more. I wouldn't trade this CD for anything in the world.

Where to begin ? I listened as if my ears were new Instruments.
Reviewer: Roy Evans
The combinations and mixes were superb ! The technical skill of all players was very apparent. The depth of the textures were astounding. Please, let there be an encore.

Great compositions and performance
Reviewer: Yiling Huang
I love the music that each note speaks, very powerful and dynamic. Very talented artists!

Profound and beautiful.
Reviewer: Elaine Stirling
The Lucidity Project is profound and beautiful. It's my CD of choice for the car stereo to keep me sane, centered and inspired in traffic.

A fabulous cd! Purchased two more for friends.
Reviewer: Marilyn Barry
A great cd to relax to. I recommend this cd for anyone who wants to relieve stress.


Reviewer: CD Baby
Grammy-nominated cellist, Joan Jeanrenaud, of the famous Kronos Quartet, sings through these songs, weaving his tumbling, river-like cello tone through fluid tapestries of classical, new age and jazz language. Dramatic, passionate, soaring and epic, these pieces dance through the imagination, calling up expansive landscapes, mountain ranges, and tender moments between lovers. This is the epitome of classically-informed new age where sophistication and artistry are held no less important. Like a soundtrack in need of a movie.

Introducing a new language!
Reviewer: Frank Jackson, Sunjada Productions
Each artist is unique, and it is his responsibility to deliver his uniqueness to us in a language we can understand. This project delivers...I heard and I understand! Good stuff! - CD Baby