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:: Listen to samples of: Upon The Threshold
1) Best of Friends
2) Christin's Serenade
3) Share the Moment
:: Close to Home, May 1997
An artist really has to love his or her craft to work in the desert. And that is exactly
what it's like for New Age musician Rene in Chicago. Regarded by many as the home of the Blues,
Chicago isn't known for it's love of the avant-garde. But Rene (pronounced "Rennie"), a Chicago
Heights native and classically trained pianist is determined to carve a New Age niche in sweet
home Chicago. "I really like to build my support in my own backyard," said the laid-back
34-year-old musician-composer. Rene understands the position he's in, tryng to build a following
in such a discerning market as Chicago. "The market [here] is a challenging and tough market but
it's there," said Rene. New Age music is usually associated with artists like Enya, John Tesh,
George Winston and Yanni, whom Rene is most often compared to. His music is a blend of Jazz
and classical styles with a focus on exploring deeper, more spiritual emotions. "It's a type of
music where people can refocus, relax. For me, it's very spiritual." Rene, who has been enticed
by music since childhood, played with a rock band in his teens and trained with Harry Davidson
at Chicago's Sherwood Conservatory of Music, finally found his voice in New Age and self-produced
his debut album "Upon The Threshold" in 1995. "I tried jazz but it didn't feel right," he recalled.
"I thought that was where my skills were headed, but it didn't work. You can tell when you're doing the
right thing when it comes from your heart." "Upon The Threshold," 12 tracks of soothing and somewhat
mystical sounds, received good reviews and still enjoys some airtime on disc jockey Rick Odell's
"Sunday Brunch Program" on Chicago's WNUA (FM 95.5). For a debut album to get airplay is considered a
very good sign in the music business. Many musical artists don't break the airwaves until their third
album or later. "For a first project, it went really well and the overall response has been positive,"
said Rene, who is nearly finished cutting his second CD titled "For it is Written..." and hopes to begin
distributing that album by August. "My approach to the second project has been different. People will
be able to feel the energy in the more up-tempo songs." Besides being a little faster, "For it is Written..."
will also feature more of a "live" feel. A number of the songs were recorded with the band performing
together, rather than mixing in the individual instruments at the end, to give a "live" sound. One of
the difficulties in performing New Age is finding the right venues. The laid back, mellow, meditative
sound of New Age doesn't easily lend itself to the bar and nightclub scenes. Undaunted, Rene often rents
out social halls for self-promoted performances and donates his time to charity events. "(New Age) is an
extremely passive market. You have to bring the (music) to the market," said the entrepreneur who has
also developed a healthy relationship with Borders Books and Music stores. Rene enjoys performing at the
bookstores with his trio which includes David Frances on percussions and cellist Eric Remschneider.
Audiences will hear songs off Rene's new CD. This New Age artist promises a music that "will touch you
emotionally and take you to another time, another place."
- Stephen Aquino, Close to Home, May 1997
:: The Monthly Aspectarian, January 1997
Upon the Threshold like the welcoming entry hall mosaic that graces it's front cover, this recording
by local musician Rene harkens back in inspiration to older times when poets wrote of mythic love
and the human spirit remained bouyantly free. His delicate touch on the piano underscores the deep
emotional content of these gentle instrumental compositions, effortlessly whisking one away from daily
stress and care to a blissful world where all is soft and warm and nurturing. Delicately accented with
cello, bass and percussion, it is the music of reverie, of daydreams, of classic romance. Even the martial
snare drum strains of "Regalia/with Grace & Glory" conjure up haunting images of young lovers separated
by consequence. Rene makes music that stirs up one's own innate creativity; listen when you need to feel
inspired.
- PJ Birosik, The Monthly Aspectarian, January 1997
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