San Francisco Bay Area composer/keyboardist Brian Kelly follows his brilliant debut release POOLS OF LIGHT with yet another outstanding, compelling collection of originals, this time leaning a bit more Smooth Jazz, but with plenty of new age elements in the mix too. If you loved the highly recommended and highly regarded POOLS OF LIGHT, which I reviewed in 2006, then AFTERPLAY is unquestionably destined for your player. The musical integrity and lyrical sensitivity that Mr. Kelly brings to the table for his projects is clearly evident on this release. He’s created more of a combo sound here, adding flutes, sax, horns and guitar to his musical toolbox, and uses them strategically for depth and richness of texture featuring Eric Crystal on sax (Boz Scaggs) and David Rokeach on drums (Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles). At a time when commercial Smooth Jazz too often heads in the direction of cliché, Brian Kelly’s AFTERPLAY is a refreshing example of how we can keep this music genre exciting and vibrant!

If you have some preconceived notion of what very good contemporary music ought to sound like, think again. Then go look up Brian Kelly. On his new album, Pools of Light, Brian takes the high road to a place just this side of light jazz and contemporary instrumental music. His lively mix of tunes and themes takes you on a light hearted journey through many doors and at the end of each one is a new and different pool of light. Each one more thought provoking then the next, Kelly’s piano and keyboards orchestrations provide a venue of positive thoughts and inspirational compositions.

Contributing to the fresh, energetic album is flute player Peter Cornell, Ben Mawhorter on tablas, and John Waller of percussion. In the summery opening number, Open Sky, Kelly and his friends take to the azure road with a strong duo of piano and flute. Great flow and great energy combine to drag you across the heavens in an open gondola as you swing beneath that big balloon. And what a view!

With the title track Pools of Light playing, the sound you hear is the awakening of a planet. You know that golden blush you see coming over the horizon at daybreak. That’s Pools of Light too. Everything takes on a new radiance and a new sense of life as the day is reborn. Kelly’s pensive piano paints the gold and rose that adds depth and color to your day. It is a very good track.

From gold we segue into Cool Blue. That’s the name of the next track. It is my favorite color and my favorite track. It has that Bill Douglas feel to it that has power and pulchritude. It has that tack into the wind sailboat kind of feel. Then again it has that even though it is dark blue dusk, life is just beginning feel. Another noteworthy cut.

Kelly finesses the keyboards and the piano and brings out the ephemeral on the track Angels Breathing. It is echoing beauty and soft sweet melancholy all rolled into one. This very enchanting tune is dreaming music.

Calling For Rain is a straightforward contemporary instrumental piece that has stormy weather written all over it. You can almost smell the ozone as the fat drops that fell out of a swollen gray sky hit the pavement and bounce back into the air. Great piano riffs on this one.

When The Stars Align brings the album to a close, but it will keep in your memory forever. Kelly does an exhilarating job with his piano as the song takes on twists and turns of timing and theme. There is a time when everything in your life is just right. It all comes together and the gods smile down upon you. You will be hearing this music at that moment.

Brian Kelly, a prolific singer and songwriter, has been involved in music in one way or another since early childhood. He cut his chops mainly on children’s theater and college choirs. His group, The Arts and Leisure Section played jazz throughout the 80’s (Got to love the name!). Kelly won Keyboard Magazine’s Annual Soundpage Reader’s Contest. He continues to produce music for film and media presentations. Pools of Light is his debut album.

Kelly’s music has that dream-like quality that comes out of the mist and pulls you towards the light. There are many elements that make up a Brian Kelly tune. Some are vastly complicated, some are childlike and simple. You can hear the classical and jazz overtones with a just a touch of Vince Guaraldi thrown in for good measure. All of it makes for very good listening.

"Pools of Light" by pianist/composer Brian Kelly is sure to be on my Top 10 favorite CDs list for 2004. An amazing debut, the album is comprised of music composed and played in a variety of styles that include jazz, classical, and world. Two of the pieces are solo piano, and the other eleven tracks include keyboards, flute, and/or percussion. Kelly’s playing style has an easy elegance that comes from a phenomenal technique and chops to burn. His music is rhythmic and lyrical, and the moods range from pensive to joyous to ethereal. Despite the changing moods, the CD as a whole has a wonderful flow and cohesiveness, creating a uplifting and relaxing musical experience.

"Open Sky" opens the album with a buoyant, carefree piece that is full of rhythm and excitement. The title track is much more meditative and soothing, and was inspired by a trip to Maui. "Cool Blue" is a great jazz piece for flute, piano, percussion, and bass - this one sounds like fun to play! "Sacred Waters" is a surprising little percussion interlude inspired by a waterfall in a jungle on Maui. My favorite track is "Troubadour," an ensemble piece where Kelly played all of the instruments himself (piano, sampled guitar, bass, and drums). A little mysterious, it was influenced by Kelly’s years of singing a capella Renaissance music. Parts of the piece swirl and dance, and others are a bit quieter. I really like the energy in this one! "Angels Breathing" is very new agey with floating sounds, gentle bells, and a beautiful piano part. "With Eyes Closed" is another favorite. Rhythmic and kind of dark, it, too, has a compelling energy and spirit that are addictive. "Home At Last" is a gorgeous piano solo with a beautiful flow. "Calling For Rain" is more of a smooth jazz piece, a little dark, a bit mysterious, and there’s that catchy, compelling rhythm again! Good stuff! The second piano solo, "Speak Your Heart," is much showier and full of passion - it really shows what Kelly can do at the piano. "When Stars Align" closes the album with an upbeat and breezy little jazz piece.

"Pools of Light" is an outstanding debut, and Brian Kelly is a very versatile musician who is comfortable playing many styles. Samples and purchases are available at briankelly.com, and the CD is also available at cdbaby.com and amazon.com. Very highly recommended!

I've always enjoyed the New Age elements that the Smooth Jazz format has integrated into its core sound over the years, feeling that it helps keep the genre diversified and rich. With that thought in mind, I'm delighted to recommend the debut CD from San Francisco Bay Area keyboardist Brian Kelly. POOLS OF LIGHT is a lush, sparkling journey into a beautiful world of elegant melodies and brilliant artistry. The music rises and falls in powerful, yet gentle, waves of emotion as you experience Mr. Kelly's work, which is infused with elements from the genres of Classical, World, and Jazz. Billed as "contemporary piano instrumentals featuring flute and percussion," POOLS OF LIGHT is a totally captivating collection of original compositions that range from delicate, heartfelt solo piano ("Home At Last" and "Speak Your Heart") to ensemble performances that are full of dynamic tonal color and intricacies. My favorites include the breezy "Open Sky," the engaging, jazzy "Cool Blue," and the equally jazzy and tasty "When the Stars Align." Brian Kelly's background, which includes extensive composing and playing, as well as singing and acting, serves him well on this debut project, as he translates complex emotions into engaging musical experiences that both captivate and inspire. I highly recommend Brian Kelly's POOLS OF LIGHT as a collection of music that I am confident will find a permanent place in the "most-played" section of your music library!