In the two years since releasing Reflecting Forward, I have shared that music on many stages and in several homes. As I found the courage to reveal myself and be vulnerable, it always proved to be cathartic. I realized that through sharing my stories with so many that the album would do exactly what I needed it to do - break my heart wide open. Connecting with people and hearing their stories in return has been extraordinarily enriching.
Here’s the next chapter. In Generous Night, Redeem I continue my journey of self-discovery, and all that comes with it. I continually remind myself to see and feel everything as I go. It is my belief that we must practice empathy and understanding without judgment. Indeed, life is short. The music here reflects memory, truth, love, loss, transformation and letting go. It’s about walking through - not around.
This album is a result of a partnership of two artists. I asked my mother, Betti, a published poet, to help create an album that had original music corresponding to an original poem. I gleaned this idea from chef Dominique Crenn, who presents her patrons with a poem instead of a menu at her restaurant in San Francisco, Atelier Crenn.
It was a true collaboration: she wrote words to my music and I wrote new music to her fresh prose. The music and poem each stand on their own, and together form a new piece of art entirely. Working creatively with my mom on a unique project such as this has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life.
We invite you, dear listener, on this adventure of memory, time, and deep personal discovery. May your journey be enlightened - always walking the path to better visions.
Rating: 
2 reviews
FROM KATHY PARSONS - MainlyPiano.com - Aug 2019
With “Album of the Year” awards for his past two releases, can Ryan Marvel keep up that kind of quality and emotional intensity in his subsequent music? I can say with all honesty: “Yes he can!” Generous Night, Redeem is another solo piano masterpiece overflowing with soulful emotional expression where every note rings true. This new music is a collaboration between pianist/composer Ryan Marvel and his mother, published poet Betti Bernardi. The idea was inspired by chef Dominique Crenn, who presents the patrons at her San Francisco restaurant with a poem instead of a menu. Ryan’s proposal to his mother was to create an album of original music corresponding to an original poem. In the process, Betti wrote words to Ryan’s music and Ryan wrote music to her prose. Each part stands on its own as a complete work of art, as they do by combining them. The poem appears on the back cover of the CD with the phrases that became song titles highlighted. In the liner notes, Ryan sums up the project beautifully: “The music here reflects memory, truth, love, loss, transformation and letting go. It’s about walking through - not around.”
Ryan Marvel’s 2017 release, Reflecting Forward, earned Album of the Year awards from both Whisperings Solo Piano Radio and SoloPiano.com. Ryan opened his heart and soul in that music with honesty and a power that continues to be cathartic for him as it heals and strengthens those who hear it. His new music is equally emotional and deeply personal, yet it will communicate to anyone who takes the time to listen - heart to heart, spirit to spirit.
Generous Night, Redeem begins with “Lunar Melody,” a dark and mysterious piece that sets the tone of the album. “Whispered Words” has a steady flow that keeps its simple melody moving forward. As the title suggests, “Crying Heart At Sleepless Dawn” is sad and very poignant, reaching into your soul. The quietly introspective “Fleeting Passage” is calm but not quite peaceful. Intricate and rapidly-flowing, “Overwhelm” shows what an amazing pianist Ryan Marvel is. “The Face of Truth,” on the other hand, is very open and vulnerable with nothing to hide behind. The title track comes at about the mid-point of the album, and feels much like a heartfelt prayer. “Veiled in Tender Warmth” is the music of enduring love - peaceful, content and unbreakable. Very slow and still, yet expressive and profound. Although it is lighter, “Breath of the Vagabond” isn’t quite carefree. “Shifting Winds of Providence” returns to a more pensive feeling of reflection and gentle remembrance. “Sweet Memory, Deliver” is my favorite piece on the album. Very delicate and fragile, it feels much like watching the graceful movement of a butterfly. Gorgeous! “Glance the Stars” ends the album with a bit of musical magic that dances lightly with a quiet joy.
What a fantastic album! Generous Night, Redeem is available from RyanMarvel.com, Amazon, Apple Music, CD Baby and many streaming sites. It is definitely one of the best albums of the year! Don’t miss it!
From JANET MAWDESLEY - Blue Wolf Reviews - Sept 2019
Solo pianist Ryan Marvel has collaborated with his mother, poet Betti Bernardi, to create a beautiful album full of soul and reflection, the music woven throughout the poem which is presented on the back cover of the wrap-around.
The fourteen tracks have names selected from lines of the poetry with the introductory piece Lunar Melody, delivering a light, clear and fanciful song, soft, gentle and yet full of longing, perhaps dreaming of being away from earths mortal coil to become the ‘man in the moon’.
Crying heart of sleepless dawn visits a place everyone has been at some time in their lives; tired, restless and facing the dawn, a time of refection, introspection and weariness, to begin a new day but both the words and the music encourage taking a stand against life’s issues. Moving on, towards acceptance, eventually leads to Overwhelm, which in the words of the poem is, ‘misery’s companion’, setting the scene for a rather sombre and measured piece, gentle and yet melancholic, but in that same melancholy there is a thing of rare beauty, hidden deep inside.
The title song Generous night, redeem is once again a measured, gentle song offering understanding, allowing time for a quiet thought, clarity still to arrive, but with acceptance more than a consideration. Evenings benediction brings with it an uplifting moment, lighter, more positive as ‘the windows of time’ are used as a sign and evidence that transformation will and does eventually take place.
A fresh breeze beckons in Breath of the vagabond as a new beginning is just a little further down the pathway, beckoning, tempting and calling out to be heard. Come join me, it almost seems to say, I am fresh, alive, new, come join me. A delightful little song full of hope and joy.
The final song Glance the stars says in the simplest of melodies, that even in the midst of despair, there is a fresh new beginning to be discovered, by simply pausing for moment, glancing at the stars, millions of years old, forming in their galaxies once again offering a fresh way forward.
Both blend of music and poetry make a beautiful journey of enlightenment and at the very least a delightful moment of time out reading inspirational words couched in delicately presented music. Read the poetry, listen to the music then combine the two and a visionary journey is there to be enjoyed.
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