Nevue's Playing Has Never Been Better...

"My first impression of David Nevue's Adoration is that it is NOT what I had expected my reaction to be. Really. I had anticipated for his music to “blow me away.” Instead, I found myself TRANSFIXED. From the moment I heard the very first chords of the "Prelude" I was drawn in and became immersed in glorious musical notes! I marvel at how David masterfully gets the listener’s immediate attention in a whisper.

Each track is as beautiful as the one before and I remained in my seat utterly captivated for over four hours. His arrangements leave me spellbound! Listening to and thoroughly enjoying David's fantastic previous CDs (for hundreds of hours - at least) l did not expect to be surprised with his art - yet I am stunned!!

The audio in this recording is so pure that it allows David's incredible technique to shine and be heard crystal clear. It is so distinct that I can actually visualize as he touches and releases from each key to create such perfect tonal nuances that I am reminded that the piano is indeed a STRINGED instrument!

Although I am not familiar with most of the hymns, I am delighted to find striking similarities in their tone and structure to my native Ukrainian sacred music. Those unaware of the content of this CD might feel that David’s new album is made up of love songs because he performs each piece with such tenderness and earnest passion.

David succeeded in transferring his love and devotion towards each hymn straight to my heart. And, having initially described myself as being ”immersed” in the beauty of these pieces is not accurate. What I actually feel while listening to Adoration is EMBRACED… embraced by God’s divine love!

If I were asked to describe my impression of Adoration in one word? MASTERPIECE"

- Review by Daria Fedorovich Murphy

FIVE STARS

“Adoration” is David Nevue’s landmark tenth CD to date and his first all-hymns recording. Nevue has included hymns on some of his previous albums, none of which appear on this one. “Adoration” is made up of fifteen original solo piano arrangements and interpretations of favorite hymns, all true to the originals and yet uniquely Nevue. The son of a street preacher, Nevue attended revival meetings from an early age, and some of his hymn choices reflect those experiences. Nevue has obviously lived with this music all of his life, and his love for and familiarity with it bring very personal and passionate expression to these gems from the vast treasury of church music literature, some of which date back a couple of hundred years. Several of the arrangements have kind of an “old-timey” feeling that’s very comfortable and warm. All of the hymns on this beautiful CD are exceptional, but I’ll mention a few of my own favorites. “Adoration” begins with “Prelude: There Is a Fountain,” a simple but poignant introduction and welcome. “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” contains some of Nevue’s signature touches, and is lively with a heart full of joy. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “I Surrender All” are gentle meditations, reflective and humble. “Jesus, Love Of My Soul” is darker and more introspective - gorgeous and stirring! “Amazing Grace” has to be one of the most-played and most-recorded hymns ever, but Nevue gives it a quiet, spare treatment that brings it new life. I also really like “Be Still My Soul,” a true classic, given a prayerful setting. “‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus” reflects George Winston’s influence - open and spare, with interesting pedal effects and a simple “folkie” approach. “Just As I Am” is another Christian classic, made popular as an altar call song in Billy Graham’s “crusades.” Nevue’s interpretation is reverent and very personal. The closing “Doxology” is really interesting. Beginning with a somewhat jazzy take on the melody, Nevue seems to be improvising the rest of the arrangement - something new out of something very old! A very effective piece, it shows how at home Nevue is with the music. “Adoration” should bring great joy to David Nevue’s many fans. We hear that his recording sessions for this album went so well that there could be an “Adoration 2” down the road - good news! Highly recommended!

- Kathy Parsons, Solo Piano Publications

All Flows From Faith

I just put the CD in the player and I was immediately captivated by David Nevue's warm, flowing style. His new album Adoration is exactly what it says. A devotional testament to his faith in God, in life and in family. What better trinity is there?

I have seen David perform and I can attest that his commitment is genuine and strong. His music is always harmoniously beautiful and full of emotion. This latest release of hymns is not what might think. It is solo piano played gently and sensitively. No preachy stuff here, but the message is clear. There is a sense of gratitude for all the gifts he has received. Some call it grace.

From the first track to the last there a calmative effect from the music. The first tunes Prelude: There is a Fountain and sequentially Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing you are totally immersed in a sense of peace. The strength of Ebenezer is in the song it is recounted how Samuel defeats the Philistines.

Sometimes called the Crusader’s Hymn and transposed from a Silesian folk song, Fairest Lord Jesus has the feeling of a Beethoven sonata. I really liked this tune and it became a favorite. Although all of the tunes on Adoration are instrumental, the lyrics to the song stand out.

"Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown."

I had never heard Be Still My Soul until I reviewed a Lisbeth Scott album and hearing David's rendition produced a fond memory. It has such a peaceful quality to it that I felt weightless for a moment as the tune infused into my spirit. That is the power of music.

I do not know if there is a more pure, crystalline version of Amazing Grace out there after I heard David's interpretation. It is a chestnut to be sure, but it has stood the test of time and given many a lost soul a bit of comfort. Its exquisite tenderness sustains in this performance as well.

There are 15 blissful tunes on the album with the final one being Doxology: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. David turned this into quite a contemporary piece that can be appreciated. A fitting ending that gives thanks to the Maker. The song is based on a companion hymn "Awake, My Soul and With the Sun." The words are ageless.

"Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

The music is so good that you need not be a true believer to appreciate it, but it is a warm, melodious companion to any kind of religious conviction. Man needs his faith more than ever and David Nevue's album gives a righteous background to worship and praise for any belief. If you just like solo piano music for the sake of music, then Adoration will equally fill the bill.

- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 6/13/2008

The Artist Did Something Really Smart Here...

"While on the surface, David Nevue’s Adoration shares its concept with Jeff Bjorck’s This I Know (both are solo piano arrangements of traditional Christian hymns), I found them distinctly different stylistically. Where This I Know presented the hymns in a similar musical structure, i.e. soft intro leading to crescendo, Adoration hews closer to a new age music piano sound. As a result, I think Nevue’s CD holds wider appeal for those who will not recognize the hymns. I found it easier to get into it for just that reason. Plus, there is plenty of subtle variety present among the fifteen tracks. If you are such a die-hard agnostic or atheist that the thought of playing an album with track titles such as “My Jesus, I Love Thee” or “Lord, I’m Coming Home” is anathema to you, well, you’re missing out on a wonderful selection of piano instrumentals that, for the most part, are softly played and serene in nature, even when the compositions are spirited.

I only recognized one of the hymns, that being the ubiquitous “Amazing Grace,” which Nevue spins out at a leisurely pace only bringing drama to bear after the midway point, and even then the usual histrionics which usually accompany the song are (thankfully) absent. Being raised Catholic, you’d think I be familiar with hymns such as “How Great Thou Art” and “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” but in my defense, I was a practicing Catholic during the “reformation” of the last ‘60s and early ‘70s when the Church was moving toward a more “youthful” and contemporary Mass, featuring acoustic guitars and non-traditional songs. As a result of this unfamiliarity, I can’t really comment on whether Nevue’s arrangements deviate greatly or only superficially from the standard ones accorded these hymns. I can tell you, though, that they don’t “sound” all that “like” church hymns to me.

“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” opens with delicate upper register notes joined by a lovely refrain on the middle keys. The main rolling melody flows with a gentle playfulness - it’s a lovely piece, lighthearted and filled with, well, I suppose you’d call it a sensation of love and joy. “My Jesus, I Love Thee” is typical of how close to “new age music” Nevue’s arrangements are on Adoration. I’d bet you could play this for fans of Ciani, Lanz, Brickman, Spielberg or any of the other “melodic romanticists” in the genre and they’d enjoy it. As on the previous hymn, the music again balances a sense of light-heartedness with a feeling of (spiritual) warmth and love, but does all this without “bringing the house down” (i.e. the volume and power of Nevue’s playing is subdued).

Not every hymn is disguised as thoroughly, though. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” while slowed down at the outset, is unmistakably hymn-like due on its main melody, although Nevue does his best to throw a wrinkle in now and then (shifting tempos from the slower opening to more celebratory later). On the other hand, a track like “I Surrender All” is indistinguishable from many soft romantic or nostalgic new age pieces.

I certainly enjoyed Adoration the many times I listened to it in preparation for this review. Despite my agnostic beliefs, I had no issue with the overt spiritual/Christian source of the selections or Nevue’s devout and sincere liner notes (another similarity to Bjorck’s album). While not truly minimalist or tone poem-ish in nature, I’d still slot this CD as “early evening/late night” music, since for the most part, Nevue plays it soft (in volume), low-key (in power and passion) and the melodies themselves evoke a feeling of peace and contentment. I don’t know if hymn “purists” will feel the same as I do, but I think the artist did something really smart here. By making the music this accessible, he’s getting his “message” across to a wider audience - or at least I hope so. Solidly recommended."

- Bill Binkelman, New Age Retailer

More Reviews of this album at Amazon.com.