Janine De Lorenzo - I'll Start in A Minor (2018)

I’ll Start In A Minor is the debut solo piano album by Janine De Lorenzo, but she is no newcomer to the music world! The album is dedicated to Margriet Pendavingh, De Lorenzo’s piano teacher and lifelong friend until Margriet’s passing in 2015. Through her years of classical training, De Lorenzo often found herself creating her own music at the piano even though her teacher believed that any music that wasn’t classical was jazz and she had no tolerance for jazz. A native of Australia, De Lorenzo went on to complete her Bachelor of Education in Music. She taught classroom music as well as piano students, and became the pianist for an all-female cabaret-performing group. That experience led her to composing soundtracks for live theater, films and television. In 2003, De Lorenzo auditioned for Cirque De Soleil as was offered a position as keyboard player for the production, “KA,” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Over the course of eight years, she performed in more than 3000 shows. In 2011, Cirque offered her the position of Musical Director for one of the traveling shows that was being created in Montreal. Within a month she fell while ice skating and suffered a concussion, and about a week after that, she broke both of her wrists - devastating events for a pianist. When she was able to travel again, De Lorenzo returned to Australia to be close to loved ones while she healed and recovered. Her piano teacher was living a few doors down from her mother and was able to help De Lorenzo rebuild the strength in her fingers and wrists so that she could play again. De Lorenzo returned to Cirque after about a year, touring with the show “Amaluna” as Musical Director before deciding to take time to channel her creative passions into her own music. What an amazing story, and what an amazing album! Recorded at Joe Bongiorno’s Piano Haven Studio in Sedona, AZ on his Shigeru Kawai concert grand, the fifteen original piano solos are warm, expressive and very beautiful.

I’ll Start In A Minor begins with “Here I Am,” an elegant introductory piece that is very open, honest and heartfelt. “The Light” was composed in honor of De Lorenzo’s grandmother, who bought her first piano not knowing that the instrument would “shine a light” for the rest of her granddaughter’s life. “For Margriet” is the beautiful piece composed for that very special piano teacher. Overflowing with love and gratitude, it’s a piece that would bring a tear or two (or a few hundred!) to any piano teacher’s eye - a magnificent tribute! “Freedom” picks up the tempo a bit to express what it feels like to be on an open road “with no where to be and everything to see.” “Just Play” is a loving thank you to De Lorenzo’s parents for the encouragement to “just play.” The simple, poignant melody expresses so much with so little - compelling! The melancholy “Reaching Upwards,” reflects on the fear, struggles and uncertainty of recovering from her broken wrists and finding the courage to start again. The piano is where De Lorenzo often finds herself when she has questions, and “Answers” is the graceful, lyrical description of that process. “Awakening” is a love song, pure and simple. Expressed with tenderness and passion, it’s another favorite. The haunting “If I Can Reach You” is a piece about connection - especially through music. Open and uncluttered but very emotionally powerful, it’s my favorite track. “Through The Years” closes the album with a gentle reminder about the passage of time and moments from the past that often come to mind. Brava! ~ Kathy Parsons