This young Utah pianist and composer brings conventions of classical, New Age, and pop into a highly listenable hybrid. While Heftel's crisp phrasing gives away his classical training, his swelling dynamic range is more akin to George Winston, and his affinity for sweeping fills lines him up with the Piano Man himself: Billy Joel.

KAWIKA HEFTEL, "Solace" (self-published).
   Pianist and composer Kawika Heftel's debut album shows a depth and maturity beyond what you might expect of a 19-year-old, incorporating pieces he's written mostly in a light classical vein, with touches of soft jazz and folk and other genres. He also throws in a bit of Gershwin, some
Debussy, the evocative "Ashokan Farewell," and songs written by friends and family.
   His compositions are, for the most part, soft and moody, living up to the CD's title. And he plays with both skill and passion, conveying the
emotion of his work.
   In a personal note, he talks about how music has helped him through some of life's trials, such as the divorce of his parents. "This music," he
notes, "has been distilling in my mind" for a long time.
   He also notes that he produced the CD to help finance an LDS mission to Lithuania. For information on its availability, [visit http://www.kawikaheftel.com or email kawika@kawikaheftel.com.]