A Jazzy Journey Through Nature
sounni ali
By Liz Singer
While the album's title suggests a record that is solely about nature
and all of its creatures, this this phenomenal recording by award-
winning, jazz pianist Gary Paul Bryant includes settings much more
diverse than your average forest. "WildLife" has the musical ability
to switch not only the mood, but also the scene, in every song. Just
like a walk through nature, you are never sure of what animals,
insects or noises you may stumble upon along the way.
The album's journey begins with the title track "WildLife," as you can
picture the glistening ponds and birds chirping in the distance. The
sweet sounds of the synthesizer relocate listeners to the middle of a
peaceful forest, as the vibe is simply heavenly. The track is perfect
for relaxing after a long, stressful day, as it makes you feel at
peace with the universe. Not only does it include the jazzy saxophone
and triangle, but also the ting-tinging bells. Moving to a slightly
groovier, psychedelic sound on "One Cool Squirrel," listeners suddenly
get the sensation that they're strolling through New Orleans at night,
mesmerized by the classy tone of the city, complete with street
musicians and shining lights from the local bars. Changing the scene,
"Elephant in the Room" creates a trip on a carpet ride over the
desert. And on "No Possum In My Pond," a jazzy beatnik scene is
enforced, while the piano is especially dazzling. The keys sound so
smooth that you can actually picture Bryant's hands effortlessly
sliding over the ivory.
One of the strongest tracks is "Licking A Low Tide," which transitions
from a tone of mourning and nostalgia into a brave power-tune in a
matter of seconds. Listeners are initially made to feel as if they are
on the beach at sunset, looking out at the sea and dreaming of a lost
love. Then, suddenly, the track becomes uplifting, inspiring all those
in pain to move forward. Above the music, the song teaches the lesson
that life goes on; just as the waves crash against the shore and wash
back into the sea, so too will the heart mend itself and learn to love
again.
Perhaps the edgiest track, "Burning Hills" sends you racing away from
danger; you can feel the suspense as the blood runs more quickly
through your veins while the beat intensifies. Throughout the song,
you adventure on a street race from the cops, zooming through alleys,
never sure of what's going to happen next - and just before you find
out, the song abruptly ends. Taking you to another far-off place,
"Barely a Polar Bear" leaves you in the middle of the arctic, looking
out at the wonder of the frozen world. While in amazement of the
purest white your eyes have ever seen, the sweet piano melody brings a
smile to your face. While each track takes you far from where you
began, the most impressive song is "Raptor Ridge." The tune begins
with the divine harmony of a choir, and then the keys start leading a
path straight to heaven while the electric instrumentals guide the
way. The song constantly rotates between vocals and instrumentals,
making you wonder if you're in the middle of a Jimi Hendrix concert or
floating on a cloud...or both.
On the proudly triumphant anthem "The Grand Stampede," you can imagine
the animals parading down a line, side by side. The track switches
back and forth between dominant horns and passive yet crystal clear
flutes to create the perfect balance among the creatures of nature:
the weak walk alongside the strong, all marching together in peace and
setting an example for mankind.
After all the moving around from song to song and location to
location, "WildLife" leaves you ready for bed with "Two Birds on a
Boesendorfer." The song functions as a subdued, beautifully articulate
bedtime story, as the comforting keys tuck you in for a good night's
sleep. After a fulfilling, eventful trip around the globe, including
encounters with every environment and animal imaginable, the
astounding musicality of Bryant's "WildLife" leaves listeners not only
calmer, but also more at one with the 'WildLife' around them.