Quotes and Excerpts
Comments on Kathryn's third album, What the Winter Said, released November 1, 2013. Click here for the full reviews. The album won Best Holiday Album of 2013 from Zone Music Reporter.
"What the Winter Said is the third truly exceptional release from pianist/composer Kathryn Kaye, following her chart-topping Dreaming Still (2011) and Heavy As a Feather (2012). This album is beyond beautiful, performed in a graceful and understated way. Even though the theme is winter, it is not music relegated to the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s only. Very highly recommended!"
Kathy Parsons
MainlyPiano
"Whether the haunting refrains on this album came about by 'accident' or design, Kathryn has managed to produce another beautifully crafted album that compares favorably with her two previous chart-topping releases. While the warmth of the sweet melodies on this album is perfect for taking the chill off a cold winter’s day, the fact that the carols she has chosen to interpret are not as well known or immediately associated with the holidays, makes this recording one that can be enjoyed year round. What the Winter Said is a welcome addition to Kathryn Kaye’s growing musical garden."
Michael Diamond
Music and Media Focus
“As on her two previous releases, her piano playing is restrained, subtle, never overreaching into melodrama, sometimes somber but always laced with a gentle sense of beauty, occasionally tinted with a dash of nostalgia or romance. Kaye excels at a careful, nuanced style, letting individual notes work their magic on the listener’s emotion, and not putting any of the intended reactions in bold face or underlined, an approach of which I am a particular fan.“Kathryn Kaye is carving out a specific niche for her talents, a niche of being musically soft-spoken, playing and composing in a style that bears witness to the gentler side of human emotions, whether they be the pleasant ones or the ones that remind us we are, after all, human because we also feel pain. However, in many cases with Kaye’s music, it is the pain of regret and remembrance, not outright sorrow or loss. What the Winter Said … is the perfect soundtrack for falling leaves, falling snow, and falling temperatures - all best savored in front of a hearth with a crackling fire, of course!”
Bill Binkelman
Zone Music Reporter
"Kathryn Kaye is a musician that will sweep you off your feet. Her music tugs at the deepest parts of you, coaxing rich emotion from subtle and complex melodies. Her newest album, What the Winter Said is a beautiful journey through snow covered hills and the days of holly and ivy, midwinter and starry crisp nights spent with the one you cherish most.
Kathryn Kaye has graced us with another beautiful album. It is snowy wonderment in wintery glory. She is an evocative and thought provoking artist and I clamor for more of her playing each time the album comes to an end. Her third CD, What the Winter Said is a unique and profound album... This album looks at Yuletide with an all new vision. ...a sound experience that has given me many nights of enjoyment and will do so for many more to come. This is piano music at its finest."
Dana Wright
Muzikreviews.com
Comments on Kathryn's first album, Dreaming Still, released January 2011. To read the full reviews, click here.
"... this is simply a gorgeous album. Some of the most thoughtful and profound piano work I have ever heard."
Darrell Burgan
http://www.StillStream.com/
"Kathryn Kaye is as talented a composer and pianist as any with whom I’ve ever had the pleasure to work. Evidence of her classical training is everywhere in her varied and confident performances, but it’s her compositions which ultimately make Dreaming Still the powerful debut it is. Some of her pieces feel so hauntingly familiar that they seem like part of your DNA. That she accomplishes this without imitation or cliché is nothing less than a musical magic trick. This is a brilliant debut recording by a woman from whom we certainly and gratefully will be hearing much more."
Will Ackerman
Windham County, Vermont
http://www.williamackerman.com/
"The compositions are simple yet elegant, much like Kaye’s brilliantly understated piano playing... Dreaming Still will leave piano music aficionados, as well as casual music listeners, in a positively blissful, dreamy state of mind."
Raj Manoharan
http://www.rajmanreviews.blogspot.com/
"Dreaming Still is the debut CD by pianist/composer Kathryn Kaye, and what an auspicious beginning it is! ...Kathryn Kaye has established her own voice here, and it is lovely! Many of the fourteen tracks are solo piano, and there isn’t a weak track on the whole album - very unusual! What a great album! I give it my highest recommendation!"
Kathy Parsons
http://www.MainlyPiano.com/
"The moving piano music of Kathryn Kaye flows like quick drops of a downpour. And they are filled with warmth and conciliation. This falling rain brings a long awaited refinement. It washes away all the grime that has accumulated for a long time. You feel yourself young and full of positive energy. Your creativity is with you again and nothing can take it away."
Serge Kozlovsky
http://sergekozlovsky.com/
“Dreaming Still is an impressive effort, made even more so by the fact that it is Kathryn’s first. Luckily we won’t have to wait long to hear the second, as she already has plans to come down from the mountain and head back to the forests of Vermont to pursue another step in her unfolding musical journey. If this album is any indication, it will be something to look forward to."
Michael Diamond
http://musicandmediafocus.wordpress.com/
"…the music has a timeless aspect to it, it passes effortlessly and facilitates a strong sense of peace within the listener. With New Age albums being rather passive and restful by nature it is difficult to differentiate between them, but I think that Dreaming Still has a melodic edge that pushes it above the average."
John M. Peters
http://www.the-borderland.co.uk/
"Kathryn Kaye is a talented pianist releasing her first piano and instrumental album. After learning every detail, like her lifetime of music experience, the collaborating artists, and production credits, I had a feeling her new release was going to be great. In fact Kathryn Kaye’s new release greatly exceeded my expectations."
John P. Olsen
http://www.newagemusicworld.com/
"On Dreaming Still, Kaye puts together a lovely recording that will give you every reason to let go of stress and empty your mind. The simple, elegant title is the perfect backdrop for what you find on this CD. It implies to me that if you listen to the music, relax and gaze at the cover's picture of the tree, you'll find yourself dreaming still. ...this kind of music should be listened to with the intent of emptying your mind and doing some day dreaming or meditating. ...you may find yourself refreshed and renewed after an entire listen."
Keith Hannaleck
http://www.muzikreviews.com/
"Upon hearing the album’s first track, 'Time Moving Slowly,' I knew I was in for a real treat. Kaye’s piano playing ability took my breath away. Each song on the album offers its own contribution to the Dreaming Still masterpiece. Listeners will transcend from their busy, hectic day to a state of complete emotional stillness and dreamy relaxation. It’s Kaye’s unparalleled ability to infuse both rich, dramatic melodies with ones a bit softer, a bit dreamy, that engages listeners’ entire being."
Erin Legg
http://www.CirclesofLight.com/
"There are times when you know right away that you are in the presence of a true artist, and I’ve found that to often be true for solo pianists than for other players. Just listen to the opening track, 'Time Moving Slowly,' and you’ll know why I’m saying that. … simple, yet beautiful."
Rotcod Zzaj (Dick Metcalf)
Improvijazzation Nation Magazine
http://rotcodzzaj.com/wordpress/
"Dreaming Still es el primer trabajo de la compositora y pianista Kathryn Kaye, un álbum donde predominan melodías tranquilas, perfectas para momentos en los que se requiere deliberar o simplemente, recrearse con los hermosos recuerdos que esta música ayuda a recuperar. Compuesto por uno de los pianos más dulces jamás escuchado, Dreaming Still es un gran debut y un álbum muy recomendable."
Alejandro Clavijo
http://www.reviewsnewage.com/kathrynkaye.html/
Comments on Heavy as a Feather, Kathryn's second album, released December 2011. To read the complete reviews, click here.
"A touch light as a feather, but with the power to keep you rooted to your seat so you don’t miss a single note. ... Kathryn Kaye uses all of her musical knowledge of folk and classical to create a masterpiece with Heavy As A Feather. The wistful tones and haunting melodies will bring you out of your hectic world and into a place of contemplation. This album is a must-hear, especially when you need a bit of a disconnect from the business of the everyday grind."
Dana Wright
www.MuzikReviews.com/
"The uncluttered melodies are played with such heartfelt expression that each becomes a distinctive gem as well as part of a flowing, cohesive whole. ... It’s amazing how much an artist can convey with so few notes. ... This is a great album...
Kathy Parsons
MainlyPiano.com/
"This is, quite simply, the best piano/orchestral work I’ve heard this year..."
Rotcod Zzaj (Dick Metcalf)
Improvijazzation Nation
"...a delightfully rich and engaging concoction that is a sight for sore ears."
Raj Manoharan
RajMan Reviews
"Ms Kaye is a subtle composer, her music calling in influences of various classical composers such as Chopin and Liszt. ... This is a quietly stunning album, musically rich and ideal for reflection or finding a little peace in one's life."
John M. Peters
The Borderland
"Some of Kathryn’s compositions, for me, are like musical portraits that evoke the earthy ambience and subtle shadings of an Andrew Wyeth painting. In the words of Wyeth himself, 'To be a great artist, requires emotional depth, an openness, to look beyond self to the subject, and passion. A great painting then is one that enriches and broadens one’s perspective.' And so it is with the music of Kathryn Kaye, which resonates on an emotional level with the listener and inspires vision in the mind’s eye."
Michael Diamond
MichaelDiamondMusic.com
"This music is weightless and full of inner freedom. It is like the flight of a small multicolored butterfly which flies from one beautiful flower to another on the lush Summer meadow. This music is overflowing with tenderness, compassion and forgiveness. When you listen to this project you realize what a joy to be here on this Earth and you want to stay here as long as possible in harmony and creativity. ... This music appeals to the highest aspirations of your soul. It awakens the yearning for love and beauty."
Serge Kozlovsky
SergeKozlovsky.com
"Kathryn Kaye is well on her way to establishing herself as one of the best of the current crop of pianists. Her compositions convey emotions effortlessly with no trace of "in your face" theatrics. She clearly understands that less is more when it comes to number of notes as well as allowing the simple flow of the melody to speak softly."
Bill Binkelman
Zone Music Reporter
"Kathryn Kaye is a versatile pianist who knows how to create beautiful song melodies with emotional depth and charm..."
John P. Olsen
New Age Music World
"What the Winter Said is the third truly exceptional release from pianist/composer Kathryn Kaye, following her chart-topping Dreaming Still (2011) and Heavy As a Feather (2012). This album is beyond beautiful, performed in a graceful and understated way. Even though the theme is winter, it is not music relegated to the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s only. Very highly recommended!"
Kathy Parsons
MainlyPiano
"Whether the haunting refrains on this album came about by 'accident' or design, Kathryn has managed to produce another beautifully crafted album that compares favorably with her two previous chart-topping releases. While the warmth of the sweet melodies on this album is perfect for taking the chill off a cold winter’s day, the fact that the carols she has chosen to interpret are not as well known or immediately associated with the holidays, makes this recording one that can be enjoyed year round. What the Winter Said is a welcome addition to Kathryn Kaye’s growing musical garden."
Michael Diamond
Music and Media Focus
“As on her two previous releases, her piano playing is restrained, subtle, never overreaching into melodrama, sometimes somber but always laced with a gentle sense of beauty, occasionally tinted with a dash of nostalgia or romance. Kaye excels at a careful, nuanced style, letting individual notes work their magic on the listener’s emotion, and not putting any of the intended reactions in bold face or underlined, an approach of which I am a particular fan.“Kathryn Kaye is carving out a specific niche for her talents, a niche of being musically soft-spoken, playing and composing in a style that bears witness to the gentler side of human emotions, whether they be the pleasant ones or the ones that remind us we are, after all, human because we also feel pain. However, in many cases with Kaye’s music, it is the pain of regret and remembrance, not outright sorrow or loss. What the Winter Said … is the perfect soundtrack for falling leaves, falling snow, and falling temperatures - all best savored in front of a hearth with a crackling fire, of course!”
Bill Binkelman
Zone Music Reporter
"Kathryn Kaye is a musician that will sweep you off your feet. Her music tugs at the deepest parts of you, coaxing rich emotion from subtle and complex melodies. Her newest album, What the Winter Said is a beautiful journey through snow covered hills and the days of holly and ivy, midwinter and starry crisp nights spent with the one you cherish most.
Kathryn Kaye has graced us with another beautiful album. It is snowy wonderment in wintery glory. She is an evocative and thought provoking artist and I clamor for more of her playing each time the album comes to an end. Her third CD, What the Winter Said is a unique and profound album... This album looks at Yuletide with an all new vision. ...a sound experience that has given me many nights of enjoyment and will do so for many more to come. This is piano music at its finest."
Dana Wright
Muzikreviews.com
Comments on Kathryn's first album, Dreaming Still, released January 2011. To read the full reviews, click here.
"... this is simply a gorgeous album. Some of the most thoughtful and profound piano work I have ever heard."
Darrell Burgan
http://www.StillStream.com/
"Kathryn Kaye is as talented a composer and pianist as any with whom I’ve ever had the pleasure to work. Evidence of her classical training is everywhere in her varied and confident performances, but it’s her compositions which ultimately make Dreaming Still the powerful debut it is. Some of her pieces feel so hauntingly familiar that they seem like part of your DNA. That she accomplishes this without imitation or cliché is nothing less than a musical magic trick. This is a brilliant debut recording by a woman from whom we certainly and gratefully will be hearing much more."
Will Ackerman
Windham County, Vermont
http://www.williamackerman.com/
"The compositions are simple yet elegant, much like Kaye’s brilliantly understated piano playing... Dreaming Still will leave piano music aficionados, as well as casual music listeners, in a positively blissful, dreamy state of mind."
Raj Manoharan
http://www.rajmanreviews.blogspot.com/
"Dreaming Still is the debut CD by pianist/composer Kathryn Kaye, and what an auspicious beginning it is! ...Kathryn Kaye has established her own voice here, and it is lovely! Many of the fourteen tracks are solo piano, and there isn’t a weak track on the whole album - very unusual! What a great album! I give it my highest recommendation!"
Kathy Parsons
http://www.MainlyPiano.com/
"The moving piano music of Kathryn Kaye flows like quick drops of a downpour. And they are filled with warmth and conciliation. This falling rain brings a long awaited refinement. It washes away all the grime that has accumulated for a long time. You feel yourself young and full of positive energy. Your creativity is with you again and nothing can take it away."
Serge Kozlovsky
http://sergekozlovsky.com/
“Dreaming Still is an impressive effort, made even more so by the fact that it is Kathryn’s first. Luckily we won’t have to wait long to hear the second, as she already has plans to come down from the mountain and head back to the forests of Vermont to pursue another step in her unfolding musical journey. If this album is any indication, it will be something to look forward to."
Michael Diamond
http://musicandmediafocus.wordpress.com/
"…the music has a timeless aspect to it, it passes effortlessly and facilitates a strong sense of peace within the listener. With New Age albums being rather passive and restful by nature it is difficult to differentiate between them, but I think that Dreaming Still has a melodic edge that pushes it above the average."
John M. Peters
http://www.the-borderland.co.uk/
"Kathryn Kaye is a talented pianist releasing her first piano and instrumental album. After learning every detail, like her lifetime of music experience, the collaborating artists, and production credits, I had a feeling her new release was going to be great. In fact Kathryn Kaye’s new release greatly exceeded my expectations."
John P. Olsen
http://www.newagemusicworld.com/
"On Dreaming Still, Kaye puts together a lovely recording that will give you every reason to let go of stress and empty your mind. The simple, elegant title is the perfect backdrop for what you find on this CD. It implies to me that if you listen to the music, relax and gaze at the cover's picture of the tree, you'll find yourself dreaming still. ...this kind of music should be listened to with the intent of emptying your mind and doing some day dreaming or meditating. ...you may find yourself refreshed and renewed after an entire listen."
Keith Hannaleck
http://www.muzikreviews.com/
"Upon hearing the album’s first track, 'Time Moving Slowly,' I knew I was in for a real treat. Kaye’s piano playing ability took my breath away. Each song on the album offers its own contribution to the Dreaming Still masterpiece. Listeners will transcend from their busy, hectic day to a state of complete emotional stillness and dreamy relaxation. It’s Kaye’s unparalleled ability to infuse both rich, dramatic melodies with ones a bit softer, a bit dreamy, that engages listeners’ entire being."
Erin Legg
http://www.CirclesofLight.com/
"There are times when you know right away that you are in the presence of a true artist, and I’ve found that to often be true for solo pianists than for other players. Just listen to the opening track, 'Time Moving Slowly,' and you’ll know why I’m saying that. … simple, yet beautiful."
Rotcod Zzaj (Dick Metcalf)
Improvijazzation Nation Magazine
http://rotcodzzaj.com/wordpress/
"Dreaming Still es el primer trabajo de la compositora y pianista Kathryn Kaye, un álbum donde predominan melodías tranquilas, perfectas para momentos en los que se requiere deliberar o simplemente, recrearse con los hermosos recuerdos que esta música ayuda a recuperar. Compuesto por uno de los pianos más dulces jamás escuchado, Dreaming Still es un gran debut y un álbum muy recomendable."
Alejandro Clavijo
http://www.reviewsnewage.com/kathrynkaye.html/
Comments on Heavy as a Feather, Kathryn's second album, released December 2011. To read the complete reviews, click here.
"A touch light as a feather, but with the power to keep you rooted to your seat so you don’t miss a single note. ... Kathryn Kaye uses all of her musical knowledge of folk and classical to create a masterpiece with Heavy As A Feather. The wistful tones and haunting melodies will bring you out of your hectic world and into a place of contemplation. This album is a must-hear, especially when you need a bit of a disconnect from the business of the everyday grind."
Dana Wright
www.MuzikReviews.com/
"The uncluttered melodies are played with such heartfelt expression that each becomes a distinctive gem as well as part of a flowing, cohesive whole. ... It’s amazing how much an artist can convey with so few notes. ... This is a great album...
Kathy Parsons
MainlyPiano.com/
"This is, quite simply, the best piano/orchestral work I’ve heard this year..."
Rotcod Zzaj (Dick Metcalf)
Improvijazzation Nation
"...a delightfully rich and engaging concoction that is a sight for sore ears."
Raj Manoharan
RajMan Reviews
"Ms Kaye is a subtle composer, her music calling in influences of various classical composers such as Chopin and Liszt. ... This is a quietly stunning album, musically rich and ideal for reflection or finding a little peace in one's life."
John M. Peters
The Borderland
"Some of Kathryn’s compositions, for me, are like musical portraits that evoke the earthy ambience and subtle shadings of an Andrew Wyeth painting. In the words of Wyeth himself, 'To be a great artist, requires emotional depth, an openness, to look beyond self to the subject, and passion. A great painting then is one that enriches and broadens one’s perspective.' And so it is with the music of Kathryn Kaye, which resonates on an emotional level with the listener and inspires vision in the mind’s eye."
Michael Diamond
MichaelDiamondMusic.com
"This music is weightless and full of inner freedom. It is like the flight of a small multicolored butterfly which flies from one beautiful flower to another on the lush Summer meadow. This music is overflowing with tenderness, compassion and forgiveness. When you listen to this project you realize what a joy to be here on this Earth and you want to stay here as long as possible in harmony and creativity. ... This music appeals to the highest aspirations of your soul. It awakens the yearning for love and beauty."
Serge Kozlovsky
SergeKozlovsky.com
"Kathryn Kaye is well on her way to establishing herself as one of the best of the current crop of pianists. Her compositions convey emotions effortlessly with no trace of "in your face" theatrics. She clearly understands that less is more when it comes to number of notes as well as allowing the simple flow of the melody to speak softly."
Bill Binkelman
Zone Music Reporter
"Kathryn Kaye is a versatile pianist who knows how to create beautiful song melodies with emotional depth and charm..."
John P. Olsen
New Age Music World