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Pianist Darlene Miller likes to say that she "has to play from [her] toenails... for the heart stops too short in the chest." I believe that means that Miller plays her music with her entire being, from the top of her cranium to the tips of her toes. She's an emotional well-spring of intense piano energy, and she pumps lively warmth and enthusiasm into her renditions of 20 holiday classics on Christmas Memories.

Providing nearly an hour of old-fashioned holiday fun, Miller plays with high energy and heart. The feel is classical, but she conveys a light lyricism, too; the music is neither stuffy nor dull. She nicely mixes the sacred with the secular, providing something for every audience. The old favorites are all here, and Miller's buoyant touch shifts the tempos and rhythms in ways that give familiar friends a new coat of paint, so to speak.

Like most offerings, this album does have its quirks. On Through the Eyes of a Child, for example, Miller's piano is joined by strings and (apparently) vocals, but the recording is a bit muddy, obscuring the faraway voice(s).

At this point, it appears that you can only download Christmas Memories (available on Miller's Website). The digital download approach certainly does seem to be the wave of the future, and "hard copy" CDs are slowly fading from view.

It's past midnight the week before Christmas, and Miller's elegant instrumentals provide grand companionship in the snowy hush of December in Minnesota. In fact, this music is provoking a few nostalgic Christmas Memoriesof my own.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

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From the artist's Website:

It doesn't take long for those who have recently discovered the incredible talent of Darlene Miller to become a fan of this very gifted concert pianist. Darlene plays with her entire heart and soul . She creates that strong emotional connection that immediately draws you into the music. Her technical mastery of the piano is evident in her flawless technique and incredible control over her dynamics. Darlene seems to feel every note, and the music seems to flow out of her like an endless refreshing spring. Darlene is extremely versatile, and flawlessly performs sophisticated compositions from classical to jazz with tremendous heart, soul and emotion.

Expect to see a lot more of Darlene Miller, as she is poised to become one of the most visible and influential pianists in modern times.

Darlene has grown up playing the piano, since she was a very tender age. She currently resides in Englewood, Ohio. Darlene's favorite quote is "I have to play from my toenails.....for the heart stops too short in the chest".

Darlene Miller

Christmas Memories

Artist link

Track List