Review by Tom Petersen; Victory Review Magazine
5
By Waterstreet101
Victory Review Magazine, Acoustic Music Resource of the Pacific Northwest
Karen Marie Garrett is a top-drawer pianist headed for bigger things. Allure of Sanctuary is the Olympia artist’s third release, following a straight classical disc and another in this New Age vein. This new release is as soothing as it’s intended, but it’s also energizing. Where a lot of New Age is so light it begins to drift and grow unidentifiable, Garrett’s compositions are distinct, with melodies for the listener to hook into. It’s billed as New Age, but several cuts qualify as Light Jazz – very mellow Vince Guaraldi, perhaps. Thus, Garrett is a distinctive new artist in this field and could, with the right promotion, see herself at the top of the New Age charts (Allure is already getting significant airplay on Easy Listening stations). It won’t hurt a bit that she is a pupil of the founder of the New Age genre, Will Ackerman; nor do dead-enders get invited to record their albums at Skywalker ranch, using Lucas’s Bluthner grand! Get this album, neighbors – you can say you “knew her when”.
