About this project

Listen to the first single of the album, called "Summer Evening."

Grey

A Solo Piano music album by Justin Page Wood

This album will contain around 10 solo piano songs written entirely by me, and will consist of about 40 minutes of music.  Some songs contained on the album were written as early as 2002, when I was just 15 years old, while the newest song was written as recent as November 2011.  So, in essence, this has been a 9-year project in the making.  All music will be entirely solo piano, with no vocals or other accompanying instruments, which is what I think will make this album unique.  The styles found on the album will range from modern jazz to new age, and is heavily influenced by pianists such as Vince Guaraldi, who was the original composer of the Charlie Brown music, and George Winston.  

Here's a working song list for the album, which - for now - will be 10 songs:

Photography Book & Artwork

One thing I've loved for many years is abstract landscape photography.  The colors and simplicity that the earth create on its own has always fascinated me.  This is the kind of artwork that will appear on the solo piano album, "Grey", as well as the accompanying art book.  The book will be about 40 pages, landscape-format, and about 10" wide by 8" tall.

Another way I express myself is through minimalist acrylic painting.  I love expressing simplicity in art, through basic shapes and colors.  Five of these paintings will be available for purchase towards helping create the album. 

Another Music Sample

Here's a sample of a work in progress of the 9th song on the album, called "Slow."  It's unfinished and not mastered, but will give you a good sense of the style of music on the album. 

Why I Play Piano

One of my greatest passions and talents in life is playing the piano. 

My mom taught me to play at age 5.  And by age 12, I started experimenting and writing my own music.  I played in a rock band during high school and college, and picked up other instruments along the way, like the cello and guitar.  But out of all these, my greatest love has still been the piano. 

I'm lucky enough to be my own boss as a graphic designer in Southern California.  I get to do one of the things I love as a job - and I work with others who appreciate the same simple design aesthetic as I do.  But I've never used my talents in piano for anything productive, and I've only kept it to myself.  

This past summer, my mom passed away from cancer.  My mom was one of the greatest teachers in the world. All of my best skills were taught to me by her.  Our family was lucky to have her as a stay-at-home mom, because she had all day to teach me and my sisters valuable skills in art and creativity.  She loved art and music, and she passed that on to me. 

Before she died, she bought me a brand new upright piano.  One of the last things she told me before she passed away was that it was an amazing journey to raise 4 kids, and that this piano was her goodbye gift.  Now I get to practice my music and write new compositions all the time.  

Since I learned about kick starter, this is finally my chance to put together an album and feel confident about it, but I need your help to make this a reality and record a professional album. 

This is really something that I feel I must do with my life.  Something that I need to pass on: from my mom, to me, and hopefully to many others. 

What will the money be used for?  

Money raised from this project will go to a number of things, but foremost for professional recording, mixing, and mastering services from a local studio with a grand piano.  The money will also go towards producing the printed CD.  A basic website will accompany the website, along with an exclusive means to download the album. All packaging and other materials will be designed by me.