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To communicate through music is to speak to and with the emotions instead of with the linear movement of thoughts through the mind. Dan Chadburn’s astoundingly beautiful solo piano album, Beyond Words, does exactly this and does it flawlessly. Beyond Words also reminds us of the resounding reasons to still buy a full album in this digital age. This is one you will want to play again and again, perhaps even continuously.
Brimming with exquisite grace and sensitivity, touching our hearts in all directions, this collection of fourteen tracks of original compositions speaks directly to the soul and all that it carries with it throughout its eternal journey.
Each note, each phrase, expertly executed in emotion, timing, temperament, and composition, takes us on our own transportive journey back to peace, where we find ourselves feeling calm, light, loved even, and most importantly reconnected to ourselves and one another on an emotional level. Beyond Words will take you to another place; a place of serene tranquility unlike any other.
That said, the quite extraordinary thing about Beyond Words, and one that may not be readily apparent if you are not familiar with Dan Chadburn’s solo piano artistry, is that most of the compositions on this album are improvised. If you want to see Dan’s remarkable improvisational talent in action for yourself, and garner the full import of this impressive gift, watch the video for the song, An Evening in Florence.
There is so much to like about Beyond Words from beginning to end. In Awakening and in Joyful Morning, Dan’s sensitive compositions, expertly implemented, paint us a picture so vivid we can almost feel ourselves back in childhood; a time when we awoke without a care in the world, with joyful, innocent, and simple anticipation of the day.
Our lives are not flat and linear. We are here to experience the gamut of emotions. As certainly as there are many layers that encompass our soul’s journey, there are multiple, rich layers interwoven throughout the tapestry of Beyond Words that are beyond anything anyone could express in words alone. For example, Tears of Angels, with videography by Dave Heneberry, is an achingly beautiful and loving tribute to the souls who were lost in the Orlando nightclub massacre. You must see the video at http://www.youtube.com/danchadburnmusic. A heartfelt improvisation by Dan Chadburn, Tears of Angels is truly is beyond words. All profits from the sale of the song Tears of Angels are being donated to the OneOrlando Fund, with 100% of the proceeds being provided directly to the victims’ families and survivors.
Lazy Sky Afternoon takes us once again back to our childhood daydreams, to a place of innocence and wonder. It’s a place where one feels as if they could stay forever staring up at the sky and reminds us to be fully present in every moment.
The album closes out with the lovely Lullaby for Peace, which very clearly and without words, reminds and gently implores us to remember who we are, where we came from, and our connection to one another.
Comprised of some of the most beautiful solo piano music you will ever hear, Beyond Words is Dan’s heart speaking directly to ours and inviting us to look through the window of our hearts and into our souls. But it is definitely even beyond that. Full of love that spills over from his heart and his soul, and effortlessly flowing back into ours in an endless circuit reminiscent of the timeless music of the ocean itself, Beyond Words is a standout, a masterpiece, and a true treasure that stays with us long after the final note. — Dyan Garris, music review, New Age CD.com
