Review by Mike Holmes, Epinions.com, Odessa, Texas
A MYSTERIOUS PIANIST EMERGES IN BEAUTY
Author's Product Rating:
Pros - Gorgeous melodies and beautiful performance
Cons - None
The Bottom Line –If you would like some soothing music that has substance, this is a good choice

Review: 
I have to admit my "title" to this review is a little "tongue in cheek”.  But just a little.  Before last night, I had never heard of Ms. Garrett.  The radio station where I have a show every Monday night happened to have two copies of this new release by her.

The liner notes tell me virtually nothing about her.  Her website has no "bio" section which is typical of these sites. I have found out that this album is her 4th and that her last album "Allure of Sanctuary" was very popular in the genres "new age," "adult contemporary" and even "light jazz."  Both "Allure" and this album are produced by Will Ackerman, the guru of Windham Hill Records.  The praise for this album is widespread with such phrases as "the album is all about sublime, delicate and melancholic beauty."  (New Age magazine).

There are a number of excellent musicians on the CD including: Eugene Friesen: cello| Noah Wilding: vocals | Jeff Oster: flugal horn | Derrik Jordan: djembe and violin | T-Bone Wolk: bass | Steve Schuch: violin | William Ackerman: piano string duding and hopi drum.

Ms. Garrett composed every song on the album 
 

Here's my take on the music:

1. IT'S ABOUT THE ROSE IN THE VASE ON THE TABLE 4:59
Ms. G does write brief liner notes about each song. While composing this song, she overheard an interview of Matthew McConaughey who was being consoled about life's little dramas by his mother with the title words of this song. The music then came to Ms. Garrett and it is indeed a beautiful, melancholic song. Playing solo piano, Ms. Garrett's style is strong with the strength coming from both hands. Her right plays the gorgeous melody and the left accompanies with a pulsating bass sound. The song brings forth comforting thoughts of compassion for someone who is hurting. The message is to concentrate on the beauty that exists in front of you. Absolutely wonderful opening song.
2. TALLY'S LULLABY 6:37
This is another "consoling" song. A family wrote Ms. G that a song from her previous album had comforted them when they had lost a beloved pet. The letter moved Karen so much they she composed this song with tears in her eyes. Co-authored by cellist Eugene Friesen, he introduces this song with a powerful bowing and then Ms. Garrett slides in with a sad, moving melody. Friesen accompanies her and the beauty of the song grows. The tempo is slow and full of empathy. Both musicians play quietly and the atmosphere is one thankful remembrance.
3. VINOT AND THE SEABIRD 4:05
This song is a tribute to Eric Satie who Karen describes as being "the most important musical figure in Will Ackerman's life." It's based on an early Satie composition which was in turn inspired by Gregorian Chants. Ms. Garrett opens with repeated chords strongly played before a melody emerges backed by Noah Wilding's falsetto overdubbed voices which give the song a very haunting quality. Wilding stops singing and Karen again plays solo for several bars before Wilding comes back. Oster's flugal horn (flugelhorn) is played in harmony with the vocal to an extent that I could not differentiate voice and horn.
4. THE PIANO CALLED 3:14
This song is an improvisational melody that Ms. Garrett felt was called on by her piano. I have to say that the piano can also compose beautiful songs because this is gorgeous from the opening notes. Softly winding her way through the notes, Ms. Garrett again provides a comforting though melancholic sound.
5. MOON NIGHT 3:42
Derrick Jordan joins Ms. G on djembe and violin. The song starts off much more powerfully and Mr. Jordan either has four hands or his two instruments are overdubbed. This number has a "folk music" quality of muted celebration.
6. WAITING 3:48
Ms. Garrett certainly plays from the heart. She composed this song while literally waiting for some medical test results. The beginning of the song has a strong classical music feeling with tension building very gradually as the song progresses. Repeated notes mimic the tick of the clock and the tension caused by wanting to know answers. 
7. BEETHOVEN, CHOPIN AND THE ROSE 3:45
This song is a tribute to the two masters but retains a "simple touching melody." That simple melody dominates at first but it becomes slightly more complex in echoing both Beethoven's and Chopin's style. Whatever Ms. Garrett plays seems to have a profound beauty as it's base.
8. IMPRESSIONS 4:20
Another improvisational effort utilizing different time signatures, this is one of the more complex songs on the album. But, it continues the beautiful sound of quiet meditation and heartfelt feeling.
9. TIP TOE DANCER AND THE SEA PEARL 3:48
Here, Ms. Garrett celebrates a young person's dancing on the beach with a circular melody that helps visualize that setting. Steve Schuch's violin smoothly moves into the recording while T. Bone's bass plays mostly quiet unison.
10. CAFE ESPRESSO (FOR KEN) 4:08
This song was composed with a playful nod to some of Mozart's lighter compositions. The percussion element provided by Derrick Jordan and the "piano string duding" give the song a much lighter feeling than the rest of the CD.
11. DAYDREAMS 3:46
Described simply as "a summer idyl" by Ms. Garrett, this is another gorgeous melody that causes one to reflect in peace. Truly beautiful with a touching simplicity.
12. FINALE OF THE ROSE 4:02
Ms. Garrett says this song "continues the coda" of the first song on the album. The song includes almost every musician on the album and starts off with a very classical opening which builds in intensity at a slow, steady pace. The primary melody is repeated on solo piano for almost two minutes before Schuch's violin floats in with Oster's horn softly echoing his sound. Ms. Garrett adds volume to her repeating melody as the song slowly fades into silence.

This is truly a beautiful album from start to finish. I'm not sure what "genre" it falls into nor do I think that matters. What does matter is that Ms. Garrett is an extremely talented composer and pianist. FIVE STARS

By the end of the album, I felt that I "knew" more about this lady of mystery than a simple bio could tell me.

Recommended:  Yes

Great Music to Play While: Romancing