Suzanne Ciani
Mill Valley, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
For her first live album, New Age piano and synthesizer wizard Suzanne Ciani brings a whole new perspective to some of her most popular melodies, such as “Neverland,” “Anthem,” “The Velocity of Love,” and “Hotel Luna” among the 16 cuts. Playing with her to bring new life to her compositions is a stellar cast of musicians, including: Michael Manring (bass), Teja Bell (guitar, sitar), Paul Mcandless (oboe, sax, English horn, clarinet), Kalani (percussion), Matt Eakle (flute, pennywhistle), Jeremy Cohen (violin), and Doug Harmon (cello) each of whom has a distinguished track record with a long list of concert and album credits. Together, they give Ciani’s sons new wins to fly on. In your mind, you may have imagined these instruments intertwining with her keyboard melodies. In person, the dialogue between the musicians is facile and well-balanced with each instruments making itself heard, yet combining gracefully with the others. More intimate than her symphonic album, this small ensemble is well suited to interpret her compositions. - -New Age Voice
For Dreams, Relaxation and SleepA special collection of Ciani’s most peaceful and healing recordings, all in one magical place.
“This warm collection is certain to become an alt. adult staple. Well done.” Midwest Record Recap
“It will transport you to a place of peace and tranquility.” Wind and Wire
- Midwest Record Recap & Wind and Wire
An amazing group of master musicians gathered by Suzanne Ciani (pronounced “Cha-nee”) join forces on Suzanne’s new album, “Turning.”
They are: Suzanne Ciani (piano and synths), Chi-Yu (vocals), Paul McCandless (oboe, English Horn, alto sax), Steve Kindler (violin), Michael Manring (bass), Teja Bell (guitar), Hernandez (V-drum System), and Matt Eackle (flute).
I have reviewed precious recordings by Ciani before, and I’ve always come through with heartfelt, exquisitely nuanced performances. Each brings a sense of dedicated craftsmanship and deep spirituality to the music, “Turning” is supremely relaxing and energizing at the same time, letting the listener bask in the ambiance of the mellow tones and sending gentle vibrations through the atmosphere to take the edge off a hard day’s work or enhancing the sensuous rapture that can only be elongated by music such as this.
Songs like the title cut, “Turning,” “I Believe in Love,” and “Bird and Fish” are enchanting. The melodies are easy to appreciate and delicious to savor.
Individually the members of this ensemble are all stars. Together they encourage each other to shine even brighter. A phenomenal and inspired performance.
-Ben Kettlewell
Alternate Music Press
5.
Pianissimo III
One of the most successful entrepreneurs in the New Age music business,
owning her own recording label and nominated for five Grammy Awards,
Suzanne Ciani complete the Pianissimo trilogy with her first piano solo
album in five years.
Mixing new compositions along with ensemble pieces
reworked for piano alone, Ciani plays with classic elegance and simplicity
in keyboard paintings of love, life, and her oceanside home. The
neoclassical impressionistic "La Mer" reminds one of French composers
Debussy and Ravel, while Beethoven is recalled in the shimmering and
powerful "Full Moon Sonata." Seabirds dip, dive and dance offshore in the
positive and uplifting "Soaring" and "Butterflies" drift by on sprightly
and driven migration to Mexico.
Most melodic and harmonic are the affirmative "I Believe in Love" and the
title track from her previous Grammy-nominated "Turning." The album was
recorded 24-bit direct to disk and is dedicated to the memory of those lost
in the 9/11 attack. "May we learn to live in love and compassion." A worthy
conclusion to her brilliant and successful trilogy.
- Alternate Music Press
One of the most successful entrepreneurs in the New Age music business,
owning her own recording label and nominated for five Grammy Awards,
Suzanne Ciani complete the Pianissimo trilogy with her first piano solo
album in five years.
Mixing new compositions along with ensemble pieces
reworked for piano alone, Ciani plays with classic elegance and simplicity
in keyboard paintings of love, life, and her oceanside home. The
neoclassical impressionistic "La Mer" reminds one of French composers
Debussy and Ravel, while Beethoven is recalled in the shimmering and
powerful "Full Moon Sonata." Seabirds dip, dive and dance offshore in the
positive and uplifting "Soaring" and "Butterflies" drift by on sprightly
and driven migration to Mexico.
Most melodic and harmonic are the affirmative "I Believe in Love" and the
title track from her previous Grammy-nominated "Turning." The album was
recorded 24-bit direct to disk and is dedicated to the memory of those lost
in the 9/11 attack. "May we learn to live in love and compassion." A worthy
conclusion to her brilliant and successful trilogy.
- New Age Voice
New Age music's first female star spins absolute magic on this
third installment of her critically acclaimed "Pianissimo" series.
Brimming with future classics, Ciani's legacy as both a composer
and performer will be enhanced by songs such as the triumphal "The
Fifth Wave" and the achingly beautiful "The Enchantress."
- e d i t o r ' s p i c k s : eMusic.com
“Dream Suite” is keyboardist Suzanne Ciani’s first release since leaving Private Music and starting her own label. She has taken the opportunity to give full rein to her symphonic aspirations., trading in her synthesizers for the Young Russia Orchestra. Playing piano in this lush setting, Ciani gives herself over to the sweet themes that have been her trademark. Appropriating Mantovani as much as Mozart with her compositions, Ciani joins Chip Davis, David Lanz, and Yanni as a neo-romantic composer with an unerring ear for sentimentality. - Billboard Magazine
Suzanne Ciani is the undisputed queen of New Age romance. No one writes
or performs love songs as powerfully or beautifully as she does. (Paul
McCartney was right. John Lennon was wrong.) Her compositions are
intensely personal. Her style is ultimately graceful. Her bond with
her listeners is absolute. Once a Suzanne Ciani fan, always a Suzanne
Ciani fan. Her music is perfect for winding down. It is neither
ambient nor minimal. It is relaxing and soothing. (At the risk of
sounding sexist, Suzanne is also the most beautiful New Age artiste
around, by far!)
“Seven Waves” is Suzanne Ciani’s first album. It “expresses (her)
fascination … with early electronic instruments.” She so loved this
album that she named her recording company Seventh Wave in honor of it.
This is also Suzanne’s most electronic album. It is the pinnacle of
romantic electronica. The album rides the edge between electronica and
New Age, leaning more towards the latter, preserving her spot in
essential electronica. The “Seven Waves” are the waves of love.
Suzanne’s career would be defined by her ability to write love songs.
She has the further ability to express her words through her music. She
does not need lyrics. Suzanne speaks through her keyboards.
- Tracks Across the Universe
***** Excellent…her talent knows no bounds… “---NewAgeReporter.com
“…a showcase of 10 wonders…from one of the world’s leading new age composers and performers.” --- Entertainment News
- NewAgeReporter.com & Entertainment News
“As a piano recording it is nearly perfection.” Booksellers Network
“Emotional and breathtaking.” Musical Soundscapes
Some of the most beautiful Suzanne Ciani compositions of all time, including three new songs, are presented in their most essential and purest form on this exceptional solo piano release. Without the synth overdubs, without orchestrated passages, without the frills and fluff: Pianissimo II is the pure core of Ciani’s musical genius and the heart center of her body of work that has been touching millions of music lovers around the world for over 16 years. Emotional and breathtaking, this fine solo piano release easily receives my highest recommendation.
-Robert Walmsley
Musical Soundscapes
- Booksellers Network and Musical Soundscapes
Discography
Discography:
Silver Ship -- 2005 Seventh Wave. Indie Award Winner.
Pure Romance -- 2003 Seventh Wave (collection)
Meditations -- 2002 Seventh Wave. (collection)
Pianissimo III -- 2001 Seventh Wave
Turning -- 1999 Seventh Wave. Grammy Award nominee. Indie Award nominee.
Suzanne Ciani and The Wave: LIVE! -- 1997 Seventh Wave. Indie Award nominee.
Pianissimo II -- 1996 Seventh Wave. Grammy Award nominee.
Dream Suite -- 1994 Seventh Wave. Grammy Award nominee.
The Private Music of Suzanne Ciani -- 1992 Private Music/BMG
Hotel Luna -- 1991 Private Music/BMG. Grammy Award nominee.
Pianissimo -- 1990 Private Music/BMG.
History of My Heart -- 1989 Private Music/BMG.
Neverland -- 1988 Private Music/BMG. Grammy Award nominee.
The Velocity of Love -- 1986 RCA Records; 1991 Private Music/BMG; 1995 Seventh Wave.
Seven Waves -- 1982 JVC/Victor; 1984 Atlantic/Finnadar; 1988 Private Music/BMG; 1994 Seventh Wave.
Photos
Bio
Suzanne Ciani
5-time Grammy nominee Suzanne Ciani is an award-winning pianist, composer, recording artist, and pioneer in the field of electronic music.
As a piano soloist, pianist with orchestra, and pianist with her jazz group, The Wave (including Paul McCandless, Matt Eakle and Teja Bell), Ciani has performed her original compositions in the United States, Asia, Europe and South America. Her live performance with The Wave at Herbst Theater in San Francisco was widely broadcast on Public Television and is available on DVD.
She is best loved for her fifteen albums of original music that feature her performances in a broad array of expressions: pure electronic, solo piano, piano with orchestra, and piano with jazz ensemble. No matter the medium, Cianis music communicates the special intimacy, passion, and sensitivity that have become her trademark and prompted fans to buy over a million of her albums.
Her music, renowned for its romantic, healing, and aesthetic qualities, has found a worldwide audience, and her performances include numerous benefits for humanitarian causes. She has toured throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
Her many recognitions include an Indie Award for best New Age Album, five Grammy nominations for Best New Age Album, two Indie nominations for Best New Age Album, numerous Clios, a Golden Globe, and Keyboard Magazines New Age Keyboardist of the Year.
In the eighties and early nineties, Cianis New York-based commercial production company, Ciani-Musica, Inc., was the leader in the field of sound design and TV spot scoring, creating award-winning music for a host of high profile Fortune 500 clients, including Coca-Cola, Merrill Lynch, AT&T, and General Electric. Additionally, Ciani has scored the Lily Tomlin feature The Incredible Shrinking Woman; the award-winning feature documentary, Mother Teresa; the feature documentary, Mother Teresa: The Legacy; as well as scoring for the TV daytime serial One Life to Live.
In the early nineties Ciani relocated to northern California to concentrate on her artistic career. In 1995, she established her own record label, Seventh Wave. After many years as an artist on major labels (Atlantic Finnadar, RCA RedSeal, Private Music/Windham Hill/BMG), Ciani felt the need to own and control her own creative work. Seventh Wave has remained an exemplar of the artist-friendly independent record label since then.
In addition to her fifteen albums, Ciani has published four books of original piano music through the Hal Leonard Corporation: Suzanne Ciani: New Age Piano, Suzanne Ciani: Dream Songs, Suzanne Ciani: Turning, and Best of Suzanne Ciani. Her signature composition, The Velocity of Love, appears in numerous anthologies of romantic music.
Ciani is a graduate of Wellesley College and holds a Masters Degree in Music Composition from U.C. Berkeley.
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