Anne Trenning is a throwback to the new age pianists of the 1980s, particularly
George Winston and
David Lanz, in the sense that her melodic playing contains considerable pop vigor. She is clearly influenced by the '70s singer/songwriter movement, and when, for example, she launches into the title tune at the beginning of this disc, it is easy to imagine that, at any minute,
Joni Mitchell or
Cat Stevens is about to begin singing. They never do, of course, but
Trenning discreetly adds other instruments here and there, and even a bit of wordless vocalizing (courtesy of Christine Van Arsdale), varying the textures and the moods of her piano-based compositions. The violin on "Ben's Song," for instance, lends the wistful tune an air of stately reminiscence as well as a country flavor; it could be used as background music for a documentary about the Civil War era. Elsewhere,
Trenning brings in a Celtic influence, notably on the lively "Clarecastle" and "The Road to Dunlavin." This is a pianist whose writing and playing have a wonderful sense of line and flow. The music is equally effective as foreground listening and to provide low-volume ambience. ~ William Ruhlmann