There's nothing more fulfilling than closing a musically diverse year with a complete work of art. Carolyn Southworth's "At the End of the Day" (http://www.carolynsouthworth.com) has the fragile beauty and soulful depth of a painting; every note is a graceful stroke of the brush.
Labels such as "New Age" or "jazz" cannot aptly describe the haunting, evocative qualities of these gorgeous instrumentals. Southworth's stunningly rich piano playing already dazzles from the beginning, the poignant melodies that transform the title track into a transcendent, magical piece. What makes Southworth's piano playing so engrossing is the emotional pull they create; they simply draw you in unlike many of her peers who keep their distance, letting us admire the sounds they create but not feel them.
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"Sideways" and "Where Eagles Soar" are upbeat and shimmering, providing soundtracks for summer days at the beach. Co-producer and Grammy nominee Paul Speer adds spice with his electric guitar on "Where Eagles Soar." But on slower numbers such as "Once in a Lifetime" and "In the Wake of the Storm," Southworth really stirs our senses, opening our ears to the tranquil prettiness of nature. Added elements, such as oboe and flute, give the record deeper textures.
The healing element of "At the End of the Day" is probably its greatest strength. This is the perfect record for tired or downtrodden souls, an antidote for the pains of the world.
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