Refractions, by Neil Pearlman

Refractions

by Neil Pearlman

supported by

mcblanc I love it’s depth & beauty played out at an unhurried pace

spotsfarm This is a wonderful collection from a gifted musician. Absolutely love it.

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Physical CD with artwork by Dylan Ladds

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Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
12' vinyl from the first pressing of Refractions. See Dylan Ladds' gorgeous album art in the immersive full size it was designed for!

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1.	O, Is Àlainn an t-Àite / Biodh an Deoch Seo 'n Làimh Mo Rùin 05:57	info	buy track
2.	Tha Mi fo Churam 03:46	info	buy track
3.	Oran a' Chaiora 05:12	info	buy track
4.	George McHardy / The Rock and The Wee Pickle Tow 04:09	info	buy track
5.	Saoil an Till Mi Chaoidh 04:35	info	buy track
6.	Reel For Carl 03:54	info	buy track
7.	Cumha Iain Garbh 05:39	info	buy track
8.	John MacDonald of Coll View 02:27	info	buy track
9.	S I Mo Cheist An Gille Donn 02:55	info	buy track

about

On stage I often describe my improvisations around traditional melodies as “looking at a tune through a prism”. Each time the tune is repeated it appears in a different light, highlighting facets previously overlooked, expanding one motif, glossing over another. This album is a collection of traditional melodies that inspire me, many from the Scottish Gaelic song tradition and a few from the related bagpipe and fiddle repertoires. Each melody is refracted in its own way through me and the Yamaha CX7 grand piano at Simpson Street Studios. Recording a solo piano record has been an incredibly powerful experience, allowing me the freedom to explore my musical voice in isolation while also requiring a deep self-examination that hasn’t always been comfortable. I have come out of it a better musician and artist than when I started and I am very excited to share the journey with you.
–Neil

Acknowledgements:
Huge appreciation and thanks to everyone who has played a role in my development as a musician up to this point. So many people have given me their support, encouragement, constructive criticism, love, collaboration, wisdom, mentorship, artistic sensibility and more. I will name a few but this only scratches the surface: my parents, siblings and Katie for their belief in me; Ian Stephenson for giving so much to the creation of this recording; Dylan Ladds for making the art/graphic aspect of this album such a deeply collaborative and creative experience; Ben Waltzer, Marilyn Lerner, Vardan Ovsepian, Tom Snow, Elizabeth Manduca, Janet Powers and Rae Simmons for teaching me so much about the piano; and everyone who has played music with me, given me the opportunity to play or come to hear me play over the years.

credits

released May 5, 2023

Neil Pearlman - piano

All tracks arranged and produced by Neil Pearlman

Engineered and Mixed by Ian Stephenson at Simpson Street Studios, Thropton, Northumberland

Additional editing by Jason Phelps at Acadia Recording Company, Portland, Maine

Mastered by Morten Bue, Denmark

Photography and Graphic Design by Dylan Ladds

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about

Neil Pearlman Portland, Maine

Neil Pearlman is a vital and distinctive voice in contemporary traditional music. Described as “a tremendous pianist” on BBC Radio Scotland and “a force to be reckoned with” by WGBH’s Brian O’Donovan, Neil has performed and taught with some of the genre's top names at major venues, festivals and conferences on both sides of the Atlantic. ... more

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