PURE PIANO PANORAMAS begins where Jeff Bjorck's debut CD, PURE PIANO PORTRAITS ends. Many pieces on Bjorck’s first CD reflect his love for the Appalachian woods and Catskill Mountains of his youth. Now, having lived the last decade in Southern California, he has turned to the desert and chaparral for inspiration. From the Joshua Trees of the Mojave Desert (portrayed on the CD cover) to towering thunderclouds hovering above parched earth, Jeff’s new songs take the listener on a panoramic tour. These new pieces were all recorded in 2000. Most were composed over the previous four years, with two exceptions: Day Without A Sun was created in 1977, the year that Jeff lost his only uncle to cancer; Your Love Has Made Me Fly is a 1986 tribute to Sharon, Jeff's wife (and best friend) of ten years. Their first joint effort at songwriting, Sculptor of the Sky, reflects their shared amazement with the beauty of clouds. Several other pieces also convey personal themes. Jeff honors his grandmother, who almost lived to see her hundredth birthday and a new millennium, with Remembering Gramma. An avid hang glider pilot, Jeff's love of flight is manifested in Soaring Mesa Cliffs, which beckons the listener to rise high above the mundane into clear, stark, silent skies.
As he does on his first CD, here Jeff surrounds his own compositions with original arrangements of two traditional hymns. He explains, "Holy, Holy, Holy has long been a favorite, and it served as Sharon's and my wedding processional, so it is particularly special. As for O, The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus, I am continually overwhelmed by God's love, and this hymn expresses my sentiments well."
Jeff describes his compositions as "quiet music to calm the heart in a noisy world." His first CD has provided reassuring focus for mothers in delivery, peaceful rest when insomnia comes knocking, and elegant ambiance at intimate wedding receptions and dinner parties. He remarks, "It is my hope that PURE PIANO PANORAMAS will bring my listeners more of what they enjoy, emotional music with a classical feel that lifts them from the rat race and gently sets them down in a restful place, as far away from everyday chaos as possible."
