Review and More

Our Review

It is always enjoyable to listen to new music that has more good things to say for it than can reasonably be said in the sort of quickie reviews we tend to publish here. It makes my job easy. In the case of Scott D. Davis's Winter Journey, we can make a list and then follow up as many threads as possible: new songs, exciting new arrangements, an energetic and musical style of play, and a unique marketing strategy.

One of the most interesting things an artist can do on holiday record is to weave new songs with old. Scott D. Davis has nominated three new tunes for inclusion in the holiday pantheon. Winter journey is, fittingly, a pensive and rambling arrangement that reminds one of a fox stepping lightly over snow-covered hills. Snowprints, on the other hand, reminds me more of a moody walk on a cold, dark morning. I might have reversed the titles. Embrace The Journey neatly ties together this trifecta of exquisite original songs. I don't know which is my favorite of the three.

All of the arrangements on Winter Journey are worth repeated listening. I think I enjoyed Silent Night, which was played in what sounds like an augmented minor key. This effect lent the song even more drama than it already possesses.

Scott D. Davis plays with the energy one would expect of a former rocker. His fingers convey obvious conviction. There is strength and tension in every note he plays.

Early on, Mr. Davis learned that if people watch him play, his CDs tend to sell themselves. His marketing strategy has been to book himself into malls across America. This technique makes him and his music a high degree of accessibility, something I think is extremely important these days. I want to see and hear music, sure. But I also want the opportunity to respond to what I have seen and heard, to tell musicians how their songs have touched me. With personal, up-close appearances in malls, Mr. Davis makes it easy to do just that.

Scott D. Davis's Winter Journey is recommended for all audiences.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2006)

More

From the liner notes:

Recorded on a Yamaha C7 piano at Spark studio in Emeryville, CA

From the promotional materials:

Pianist/composer Scott D. Davis has been referred to as "the rocker of new age/contemporary classical music". Perhaps New Age Reporter best described him by saying "his exuberance and originality are invigorating and his upbeat attitude contagious."

Interestingly enough, if you ask Scott about his musical background he might surprise you. He comes not from a background of polished piano music, but grew up a typical 1980s teenager strongly under the influences of such progressive rock artists as Rush, Queensryche, and Metallica. Scott pursued rock music as a career throughout his college years, playing keyboards for a number of local bands.

It wasn't until his band's lead guitarist introduced him to the piano music of David Lanz that he began to consider a career as a pianist....

After years of playing in smoky clubs and struggling to keep bands together, Scott walked away from the rock band and the lifestyle that seemed inseparable from it. Commitment renewed, he set out to record his first solo CD, and in October of 2001 released a seven song EP featuring piano, flute, and oboe, simply titled "Piano & Woodwinds". For nearly two years he endeavored to promote the CD, but met with limited success. That is, until a friend asked him for a favor. "A friend of mine was opening a nature boutique in the local mall, and asked me if I would play in front of the store fo its grand opening. She said she couldn't pay me anything, but got permission for me to sell my CD". Scott agreed, and in less than four hours of playing had sold over 50 CDs. Realizing he was onto something, Scott immediately began booking space in malls throughout California. He continues to tour major shopping centers through the U.S., and this success has allowed him to release new albums at the rate of about one every year.

In addition to performing in malls, Scott also plays several concerts each year in halls that range in size from 300 to 500 seats.

Although solo piano music can be found in most any book or music store, Scott D. Davis stands out. By successfully combining classical, new age, and rock influences, he's defined a piano style that is as fresh and invigorating as it is relaxing.

Scott D. Davis

Winter Journey

Order from Amazon

Track List