Who: Jim Daneker Where: resides in Nashville TN by way of Allentown PA What: New Age meets Classic Crossover with a mainstream bend When: 2017 Sounds Like: trailer music meets E.S. Posthumus meets wordless Michael W Smith While totally uninitiated as a solo artist, Jim Daneker has been around quite a while. His first break came back in the 90’s when he was offered a job as a technician with Christian artist Michael W Smith, which over a 21 year period progressed into being a keyboard and music director to the artist. Add to his musical experiences of scoring for trailers and movies, there is no doubting that both of these avenues have heavily influenced his new solo debut Ad Alta . His music is inspiring, emotional and moving with a valiant approach to his arrangements and production. But to stop here would be an erroneous shortcoming in attempting to explain the kaleidoscope of brilliant colorful musical motifs you are about to be engulfed by. Daneker’s arrangements and compositional abilities throughout this hugely impressive debut album is nothing but bold and top shelf material. The emotional outpouring of melodies and full blown arrangements are larger than life from the moody opening track “The Adventure Begins” and its broad stroke orchestral arrangements countered in fine detailed instrumentation all the way to reflective closing “The Homecoming”. In between these impressive bookends you will uncover the piano driven melancholy ballad “For Those We Love” only to find yourself later engulfed in the almost worship like “Through The Fire” followed by Celtic toe tapping “Dance Of The Redeemed” that is more than just a jig in Irish pastures. The latter is an utter full on celebration that is interlaced with pounding percussion, Uillean pipes, whistle, Irish fiddle, and handclaps with Daneker’s arrangements that will make you soar. Ad Alta in Latin translates “to the summit” and every gorgeous invigorating 67 minutes of this music will inspire you as you journey along these continuous musical mountain peaks of 15 delirious compositions. While the year is somewhat young Ad Alta is currently the clear candidate for instrumental album of the year. And even as the album concludes with the previously mentioned reflective moments in the form of “The Homecoming”, as it fades to conclusion you will be asking yourself “What just hit me and where is the dang repeat button!!!” http://jimdaneker.com/
2 Comments
Melinda Fidler
8/2/2017 03:04:09 pm
Fantastic!!!!
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Michael
12/28/2017 09:32:58 am
Appreciate the feedback!
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