Barbara Higbie

Complete Album Download 44kHz $15.00 USD Digital Delivery Cover Art JPG: FREE All Music by Barbara Higbie except tracks 3 & 6 by Egberto Gismonti and track 9 by Joni Mitchell Recorded April 2000 at KPFA Studios, Berkeley, CA Engineer: Gary Mankin Asst. Engineer: Tony Ferro Mastered by Ken Lee, Oakland, CA Production Assistance: Teresa Trull, Nina Gerber Cover Art & Design: Sofie Siegmann Photography: Irene Young

Downloads available here in CD Quality - 44.1kHz Track Listing & Audio Samples: 44.1kHz: ($1.50) 1. Play Variations on a Happy Ending [5:19] Barbara Higbie (Slowbaby Music BMI) 2. Play Charlie Riley [4:02] Barbara Higbie (Slowbaby Music BMI) 3. Play Palhaço [4:19] Egberto Gismonti (Editions Gismonti (Suisa)) 4. Play Bella [4:28] Barbara Higbie (Slowbaby Music BMI) 5. Play Asleep in My Arms [3:48] Barbara Higbie (Slowbaby Music BMI) 6. Play Marcatú [5:37] Egberto Gismonti (Editions Gismonti (Suisa)) 7. Play True Story [4:35] Barbara Higbie (Slowbaby Music BMI) 8. Play To Be [3:32] Barbara Higbie (Slowbaby Music BMI) 9. Play Rainy Night House [4:11] Joni Mitchell (Joni Mitchell Music, Inc.) 10. Play Movie [3:17] Barbara Higbie (Slowbaby Music BMI) 11. Play Kora Dreams [3:53] Barbara Higbie (Slowbaby Music BMI) Files are delivered immediately after payment on the download page. File links are also sent via e-mail. If you have any questions about your order please contact support. Our files are very large and not recommended for those without a broadband internet connection.

Barbara Higbie's VARIATIONS ON A HAPPY ENDING is an uplifting release featuring many touching piano compositions. Higbie's performances are emotive, yet never sappy or maudlin. Moreover, all 11 pieces complement one another. The album flows gently from track to track with great euphony, balance, and musical sensitivity.

Higbie's originals, while clearly New Age, use jazzy syncopations and classical phraseology. The title track is a dynamic work that shows off the pianist's considerable technique. Here, she uses a mixture of rolling arpeggios and sharp chordal punctuations. The ballad "Asleep In My Arms" is more delicate. Higbie again fleshes out the music with sweeping gestures and harp-like arpeggios. "Movie" uses a swinging, almost boogie-woogie, feel. On this selection, the pianist also throws in some well-chosen blue notes. The album closes with "Kora Dreams" a sunny piece that employs a spunky shuffle pattern in the left hand with a sprightly melody in the right. In general, VARIATIONS ON A HAPPY ENDING does much more than soothe; these are well-crafted pieces worthy of active listening.