While at a music gala in Los Angeles that didn’t quite satisfy, Australian-based pianist Galliano Sommavilla decided to make the most of his trip: he found a studio with a great piano, and created something off the cuff. The results? With a recording window lasting only one hour and thirty minutes, Galliano improvised two songs: Homeward Bound: The Santa Monica Session (parts A and B, respectively). Was Galliano able to summon his renowned brand of floating, dreamy, and emotional piano music while constrained by a fleeting swath of prepaid time? Let’s talk about it. Homeward Bound: The Santa ..read more

Australia’s accomplished, award-winning pianist and composer Galliano Sommavilla returns with “A Kind Heart” – a piano-led instrumental taken from an earlier collection and re-recorded/remastered to properly celebrate World Piano Day (which occurs on March 28th, or the 29th if subjected to a leap year). Is “A Kind Heart” the sort of classical/emotive new age goodness prevalent in Sommavilla’s earlier works? Let’s talk about it. But first, an interesting song fact:  “A Kind Heart” clocks in at 8:08, a clever nod to the 88 keys of a full-size piano. Talking about it…. “A Kind Heart” begins ..read more

Raised in both southern Wisconsin and central Illinois, and discovering a love for piano at age 10, accomplished pianist Richard Waterman graces us with his latest collection, Elegance. Renowned for “playing from the heart,” Waterman offers his interpretations of beloved popular music with a few of his own equally emotive compositions. And yes, Waterman is a full-time airline pilot, but as fun and daring as that is, it’s not quite as fulfilling. So, let’s listen to a few selections from Elegance and perhaps help Waterman spend more time behind the keys – and less behind the controls. Wait. Wh ..read more

Jazz fusion maestro Pablo Embon – inspired by fusion greats like Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, and Al Di Meola – has been with us from the beginning; he cranked out over 22 albums since 2004, and you’ll find their many well-deserved accolades right here. Now, Pablo returns with compositions symphonically supported and elevated with his latest work, the aptly-titled The Symphonic Jazz Fusion Collection. You see, Pablo had the opportunity to participate in the Film Scoring Academy of Europe Online Program, and utilizing his material, collaborated with the European Recording Orchestra in Sofia, Bul ..read more

We’re inching closer and closer to the release of the new Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara album. Set for release in June, this prolific flute duo has done a remarkable job building anticipation around their upcoming 15-track project, premiering a host of dynamic singles to excite their fans over the past few months. On 4/30 they made the next single from this project available, this time presenting us with a wholly imaginative cover of the iconic Clapton tune, Layla. Together as always with pianist Allison Brewster Franzetti, the track opens in recognizable gentle Markoff & Lazzara st ..read more

There’s been much anticipation surrounding the upcoming release of the next album from Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara. The 15-track album is set for release in June of this year, and in the meantime, the flute duo has been tiding us over with a selection of singles to be included on the new project. This week we’ve gotten our hands on the fourth single premiering ahead of this album; a transformative cover of Don’t Dream It’s Over by Australian rock band Crowded House. A bit of a one-hit-wonder, Don’t Dream It’s Over is no doubt the most recognizable song from this band, but many less co ..read more

Award-winning pianist, composer, performer and author (yep, he wrote two best-selling, music-themed cookbooks), Australia’s Galliano Sommavilla returns with his latest album, Light and Shade: The Colours of the Piano. Having taken a small break due to the dreaded  C-O-V-I-D (and don’t you dare say it aloud, lest it return), Galliano returns fully recovered, his fingers in fine, nimble form. So, is Light and Shade: The Colours of the Piano a collection of contemporary piano music that soothes the mind while igniting the spirit? Let’s hit the highlights. Wait. Who does what? Galliano Somma ..read more

By now, we’re sure you’re familiar with our resident flute duo Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara. Together with pianist Allison Brewster Franzetti, later this year they’re expected to release a fifteen-track album titled By Request, which is comprised of pieces that have been requested by their friends and fans. We’ve gotten a taste of this project already with their covers of (I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight and Take On Me. Today, we’re stepping into a different genre and allowing their classical arrangements to transform a new style of music as the duo takes on Howie Day’s Collide. Ori ..read more

James Keen, vocalist/guitarist/frontman for international rock group Magazine Gap (who we’ve reviewed favorably before), took advantage of the pandemic, stretched himself musically, and crafted his latest solo release, Crossover. And from that inspired album comes “Show Me What You Got” – an acoustic-and-piano-led call to action that makes a driving, sturdy, heartily strummed statement. What makes it so utterly authentic, unique, and far above Keen’s acoustic rock contemporaries? Let’s dig in. Vocally, the comparison to Tracy Chapman is often made, and I do hear it – the wavering, compassion ..read more

We love every artist we work with – but there are a select few who elicit true excitement from the team here at The Ark when their name appears in our inbox. Galliano Sommavilla is one such individual. We’ve had the distinct pleasure of writing about the music written by this Australian composer for several years, his instrumental work standing truly in a league of its own. An album with the title Instrumental Music​.​.​.​From the Heart certainly sets grand expectations, but we find that once again Galliano delivers authentic, moving, and truly inspiring music track after track. HERE’S WHAT W ..read more