Be My Friend (Single)

Carol Nicodemi

2024/ Carol Nicodemi

3 minutes

“Be My Friend” is a charming song of friendship and unity from Carol Nicodemi. Carol wrote the song with her husband, Edmond Paul Nicodemi, who also plays two guitars on the recording. Their daughter, Elyse Orecchio, also sings on the song, which will appear on a new children's album later this year. Written in a folksong format, this is about a couple of kids who meet but don't know each other's language. What they do know is the language of friendship, sharing and getting to know each other. It's such a sweet song in these troubled times and a warm reminder that the things that divide adults have no meaning in the minds of children. Let's all take that to heart!

“Be My Friend” is available to stream or download from Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes, and many streaming platforms including Spotify. Very highly recommended with both thumbs up!

 

Kathy Parsons

MainlyPiano. com

2023/2024

Strange City (single)

Edmond Paul Nicodemi 

2024/Edmond Paul Nicodemi 

4 minutes

“Strange City” is a new single from pianist/keyboardist/guitarist/composer Edmond Paul Nicodemi along with percussionist Kerry Kennard.  Kennard also collaborated with Nicodemi on last year's single titled “Night Jam.” Much more than a duet for piano and percussion, the piece also features choral voices (no lyrics), vibes, strings and more. Without the driving rhythms of the percussion, this piece would be mostly on the ambient side, but the compelling rhythm really brings it to life.  The repeated pattern on the piano/keyboard also drives the piece and gives it a dramatic edge.  There is a hint of mystery in the music, which feels to me very much like trying to navigate a “strange city” at night- an odd combination of fun and fascination mixed with a dose of terror (been there!)

“Strange City” is available to download from Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes and can also be streamed on those two sites plus many others including Spotify. Be sure to check it out!

Kathy Parsons

MainlyPiano. com

1/31/2024

AZURE: Portraits of Sadness

Edmond Paul Nicodemi

2023/ Edmond Paul Nicodemi

37 minutes

 

Edmond Paul Nicodemi's AZURE: Portraits of Sadness is a collection of eleven piano solos and piano/cello duets (with cellist Rachel Gawell) five of which were released as singles between 2021 and late 2023. Obviously not a happy-go-lucky album, I'm finding that the music provides a lovely soundtrack for looking out the windows at cold, gray winter weather when all you really want to do is stay in and stay warm! Two of the tracks on the album are classical- JS Bach's “Concerto No. 3 in D Minor After Marcello, BWV 974: II. Adagio,” which was released as a single in November 2023, and Chopin's “Prelude, Opus 28, No. 6 in B Minor” - the others are original compositions. It's been eight years since Edmond released a solo album, but he's been releasing singles (thirteen so far!) on a regular basis and has also collaborated on several projects with his wife, Carol.

AZURE: Portraits of Sadness begins with “Sad Romance,” a moody piano solo with rolling broken chords on the left hand and a heartbreaking melody on the right, setting the emotional tone of the album. “Sudden Goodbye” is very slow and introspective, reflecting deep pain and possibly shock at the unexpected departure of a loved one. “Lonely Afternoon” is the first of the piano and cello duets. Released as a single in August 2023, Edmond created the music to express the feelings of solitude during one very lonely afternoon and said that he hopes it will “help to comfort you if you are going through something similarly emotional.”  “Nothing But Time” was also released recently, and is beautifully melancholy and expressive. The deeply emotional “Desolation” was released in 2021 and conveys feelings of loss and despair. JS Bach's “Adagio” from his Concerto No. 3 is slow and stately and expresses poignance and reflection.  It's a piece Edmond has always wanted to record, so I'm glad he was able to do so! Also released as a single, it's a beauty and works well with Edmond's original pieces. “Azure,” the title track, is a piano and cello duet and one of my favorites on the album. The flowing broken chords on the piano provide a wonderful backdrop for the mournful cello melody.  “Dark Heaven” is very dark, indeed! “Innocent Cry” uses quite a bit of reverb with the piano, creating a shimmering atmospheric effect that works well. I have always loved Chopin's Preludes, and the B Minor one is a favorite, so it's great to have it included on the album. “Sad Reflections,” the closing track on the album, was actually the first single released back in May 2021. An evocative piano and cello duet, it expresses a profound sense of loss as well as deep sadness, possibly reflecting on the time of the Covid pandemic- something we can all relate to!

AZURE: Portraits of Sadness offers an emotional catharsis through beautiful music with a sense of understanding and empathy.  It is also simply a lovely listening experience and can provide quiet, soothing background music. The album is available as a CD and download  from Edmond's website, as a download or to stream from Amazon and Apple/iTunes, and on many of the streaming platforms such as Spotify. 

Kathy Parsons

MainlyPiano.com

12/9/2023

 

 

Night Jam (single)

Edmond Paul Nicodemi

2023/Edmond Paul Nicodemi

4 minutes

 

“Night Jam” is a collaborative jazz single by pianist/multi-instrumentalist/composer Edmond Paul Nicodemi and percussionist Kerry Kennard.  Propelled by a catchy Latin rhythm, piano, keyboard and a variety of strings create a lively yet laid-back piece sure to get your toes tapping as you ease into the gentle groove. Quoting Ed's website about the piece: 

“It was first conceived in the music class Ed was teaching at Newtown High School…then onward and upward to the jam room at the DIY CDBaby Music Conference, and finally, with the collaboration of Kerry Kennard, percussionist/composer/arranger- ‘Night Jam’ in its current form- was born.”

“Night Jam” is definitely “feel-good” music and is available from Ed's website as well as on Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes and streaming sites including Spotify. Both thumbs up!

Kathy Parsons

MainlyPiano.com

11/14/2023