Search - Mia Jang :: Water Circles

Relaxing, peaceful, high-minded without arrogance, Mia Jang's second album of piano solos is a pleasant collection of pastel-shaded compositions that could nicely complement a therapeutic massage or an evening spent with a favorite book. Jang, a native of Taipei now living in the United States, occupies a place on the solo piano continuum somewhere between David Lanz and Michael Jones, managing to sidestep the exaggerated romanticism that sometimes hinders Lanz while demonstrating more structure and purpose than Jones. Though not as lyrical as Jim Brickman, nor as artful as Liz Story, Jang composes music with simple dignity, conveying a sense of sweetness without the annoying saccharine aftertaste that sometimes plagues this genre. While the classically trained pianist often aims for a meditative mood, her more melodic pieces (the brightly engaging "Fountain," the more reflective "Morning Dew," and "Tide Pool") are small jewels worth repeated listenings. An attractive, low-key sophomore effort. --Terry Wood