EARL WILD, pianist (November 26, 1915 – January 23, 2010)

Grammy-winning pianist Earl Wild, who learned his craft from students of Liszt and Ravel and became one of America's masters of the keyboard, has died at age 94.
Wild died of congestive heart disease Saturday at his home in Palm Springs, Calif.,
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Suggested classical music for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Classics

Spirit Touch "New Album for 2009 from Joseph Akins"

Following the success of Masterpeace, Spirit Touch continues the heartfelt piano artistry of Joseph Akins. Eleven tracks include ten new originals and one arrangement of an old classic. Joseph's performance on a superior Steinway grand is featured throughout this album as piano solos and accompaniment on selected tracks. Amazon.com: Tender, creative and beautiful are just some of the adjectives that describe Spirit Touch, the third solo album from Joseph Akins, which continues his heartfelt piano artistry with eleven fresh tracks: ten new originals and one modern arrangement of on old classic. Joseph s performance on a Steinway D grand is featured throughout this album with intimate piano solos for several tracks and accompaniment from cello and percussion on others. Spirit Touch will surely touch the spirit of any listener.

All tracks were recorded at the beautiful Middle Tennessee State University recording studios. Both Joseph Akins and the engineer, Bill Crabtree, are professors in the Department of Recording Industry in the College of Mass Communication at MTSU. The world-class facilities of these studios can be heard throughout the high quality sound from this album.

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OCEAN by Michael Brant DeMaria

Michael is a psychologist, composer, musician and author with 25 years of experience in the work of guiding others on their life journeys. Michael has shared the stage as the featured musician with world renowned poets – Robert Bly and David Whyte. Michael is a multi-instrumentalist who plays keyboards, and a wide range of contemporary and indigenous percussion and aerophones. His art, music and poetry have been shown or heard throughout the US as well as receiving air time in Australia, Europe and Russia. He has played with such national and international musicians as Grammy winner Mary Youngblood, Bill Miller and Grammy nominee’s David Darling and Carlos Nakai, not to mention, Coyote Oldman, Peter Phippen, Jeff Ball, and Ash Dargan. His first CD The River was released in fall of 2003 which was voted a staff favorite on Growth House Radio in San Francisco.
Listening to Ocean is a deeply beautiful experience. This is my absolute favorite cd for meditative movement and personal recharge/renewal time. Lovely & well-crafted with a flow that seems to naturally evolve, \"Ocean\" is great for massage, acupuncture, Zero Balancing, or any therapeutic modality that enhances expanded states of consciousness/Being. This wonderfully rich ambient soundscape helps to both float and ground you; perfect for relaxation, renewal of the indigenous mind and opening inner channels to Soul-Source. - - Mary

HOT CDs

KATHERINE JENKINS "Believe"

The first six years of Katherine Jenkins career have already been extraordinary in every sense of the word. Under the stewardship of producer David Foster (credited with the careers of Josh Groban, Michael Buble and most recently Seal's comeback) made her most ambitious album to date.
Katherine spent the spring of 2009 in LA at Foster's studio, recording 'Believe', the seventh album of her phenomenal career. Together they have produced a record of epic proportions that is set to take Katherine to new heights of success around the world. With a broad mix of contemporary and traditional repertoire the record not only delivers for existing fans but will also broaden her audience across the globe. From the haunting Sarah McLachlan song, 'Angel', through to a stunning working of 90's Evanescence's 'Bring Me To Life', the mezzo soprano's unique vocal interpretations bind seamlessly with Foster's arrangement and production.
The album also features a duet with award-winning tenor Andrea Bocelli. ‘I Believe’, arranged by Foster himself, is a tender operatic ballad which unites Jenkins and Bocelli on record for the first time. In addition to the October 26 release of the ‘Believe’ album, Jenkins will embark on an 11 date UK arena tour in March 2010.

Available Recordings