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| Eric Roberts' Debut CD  Classical and jazz guitarist and bassist Eric Roberts with his debut album, "In a Silent Place" (MusicMagic Productions, 2005), continues to dazzle New Age listeners worldwide. Upon the album's release in March 2005, it quickly jumped to #1 on Newagereporter.com's Top 100 Recordings and #8 overall in their Top 100 Recordings of 2005, nominated in their "Best Instrumental Album – Acoustic" category, and has continued to receive positive listener feedback. This thirteen-track collection features accomplished cellist and former Paul Winter Consort member David Darling, as well as guitarist Robert Weinstein and percussionist Ed Contreras, and offers its listeners a unique sound that Roberts himself describes as "jazzy, non-commercial New Age."A guitarist since the age of 13, Roberts has traveled far—from Connecticut and New York to a small apartment in Geneva, Switzerland, and finally to Denver, Colorado—to develop the unique global sound mixed with tremendous technical precision that permeates "In a Silent Place." Counting among his personal influences Andres Segovia, Paul Winter, David Darling and Brazilian Bossa Nova music, Roberts, a self-proclaimed troubadour, writes music with a global goal of healing the soul and reaching out to people's hearts to spread peace and love. Chris Specter of the 'Midwest Record Recap' calls him "simply a great player that knows how to craft a very special audio escape for overburdened ears." With such a diverse offering of songs, the album presents a plethora of sounds and emotions to the listener yet leaves ample room for personal interpretation. A. Canales from the 'Critical Review' writes: "For lovers of acoustic guitar, this is a must. The instrumental tracks make perfect backgrounds for reading, meditating, relaxing, and even for classy entertaining." The range of the tracks on "In a Silent Place" mirrors the incredible versatility of Roberts and his accompanists. "The River Runs, " track #4, was a finalist in the New Age category of the 2005 Independent Music Awards. Featuring a Bossa Nova beat and the compelling, spine-chilling meandering of Darling's cello playing, listeners will picture themselves by the flowing river that Roberts follows throughout the twists and turns of the song. "Cella's Song, " written for his wife, offers a more melodic and relaxing listening experience that approximates meditation. Whether morose or jubilant, in a cramped city apartment or stretched out on a yoga mat, you will find in Roberts' album music for contemplation and love, spirit and grace. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |