Robert Thies & Damjan Krajacic - Blue Landscapes II: Discoveries (2016)

Blue Landscapes II: Discoveries is a sequel to the widely renowned release, Blue Landscapes. Like its predecessor, this CD features quiet and reflective music with splashes of vivid colors over a transparent musical veil. Melodies rise from the moods that the musical backdrop inspires, allowing more active listeners to fill in the musical spaces with their imagination. Others may be swept up by the undulating grooves or find themselves in a contemplative and peaceful mood. While Blue Landscapes II: Discoveries captures the essence and mood of the first album, it begins to expand its horizons to more mystical, and otherworldly realms. Many listeners have said that this music conjures visual landscapes in the mind, similarly to a film soundtrack, and yet the music sits comfortably on its own so that the listener is free to paint the images they "hear."

The music of Blue Landscapes is the result of improvisatory sessions marked by the influence of such composers as Ravel, Debussy, and Satie, and the nature-evoking, spiritual, and improvisatory music of Mark Isham, Tim Story, Will Ackerman, Pat Metheny, Ralph Towner, Paul Winter, and Vangelis. These artists inevitably made a mark on pianist Robert Thies’ own creative efforts, who aside from pursuing an international career as a concert pianist, has since childhood been interested in improvisation and composition that transcends traditional boundaries.

The music also stems from the deeply meditative world of the Japanese Shakuhachi as well as spiritual Native American flute music, both lurking in the subconscious of flutist Damjan Krajacic, and finally coming to fruition in this collaborative effort. The music created here is rich, introspective, subdued, wistful, peaceful, and inspirational. The mood is further enhanced by the nature of it being almost entirely acoustic-- giving it an earthly and human quality.

"Beautiful, very deep, simple and sophisticated." ---Patrick Kirst, film composer

"Here is something so organic, so naturally flowing, creating the perfect atmosphere of relaxation, melancholy and total harmony, something that it is impossible not to love. It is simple, but not simplistic. It is simple in it's perfection - freed away from fanciness but very sincere, pure, ethereal; there is a human emotion (as opposed to many "spa-like" soundtracks), and highest level of professionalism from both performers. I have never heard music quite like this. Absolutely amazing." ---Egle Januleviciute, concert pianist

"The music on this cd is absolutely exquisite; it is both deeply touching and soothing, and offers a special place for the listener to quiet themselves and simply experience music. Meditative, reflective, contemplative, Blue Landscapes truly is an incredible collaboration from two artists whose approach to the songs on this album always feels completely natural and unmanufactured. It is an honest and genuine expression that seems to come straight from their souls—it is music-making at its best." ---Bridget Hough, collaborative pianist