by Jonathan Widran
Not quite as mellifluous and daring as David Lanz but much more direct and emotional than Michael Jones, Danny Wright is one of new age piano's most popular performers, with over four million albums sold to date. This is a lovely collection of gentle, wistful romances perfect for many occasions: background on a romantic evening, an aid to melancholy reflection, an inspiration to love again. Tracks like "Loving You" show the depth of Wright's dramatic ability simply playing solo, while "Keys to the Heart" finds him creating beautiful point-counterpoint statements with violin. The lush, filmic "The Water Is Wide" balances a mournful violin with elegant high-octave improvisation. Wright creates most of his own material, but his cover of Celine Dion's "The Prayer" brings the gentle song an added elegance.