Shoshana Michel
Brooklyn, NY, UNITED STATES
Official WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramSpotifyPandoraAppleMusicBandCampSoundCloudYouTubeShoshana Michel is an award-winning contemporary solo pianist. Classically trained, Shoshana started music lessons at the age of seven when a door-to-door salesman for a local music studio knocked on her front door. Throughout the years, she has played different genres of music at different venues from ragtime at Knott’s Berry Farm to contemporary solo piano at The Galleria at South Bay in Redondo Beach, California.
Shoshana recorded her first solo piano album, Soul Whispers in 2015. In 2016, she released Dancing on the Wind, her debut album as a composer followed by Prelude to a Dream in 2017, Reflection in 2019 and Impressions in 2020.
Shoshana’s music has been used in documentaries and has received accolades, nominations and awards. Her music can be heard on Enlightened Piano Radio, Sirius XM Radio, Pandora, Calm Radio, Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, Sleep Radio, The River of Calm and many other stations worldwide.
Shoshana’s playing has been described as “graceful and flowing” and “refined and elegant”. Her music will inspire, stir the heart and touch the soul. The music she writes is inspired by life experiences, people and emotions. Shoshana feels that music is healing and is passionate about sharing her music with others. She resides with her human and avian family in Brooklyn, New York.
Albums
“Impressions” reviewed by Pam Asberry
Shoshana Michel’s fifth album, “Impressions,” features thirteen original solo piano compositions and is arguably Shoshana’s most intimate collection to date. Recorded and engineered by Joe Bongiorno, the piano sound is exquisite; the beautiful cover art, reminiscent of a Van Gogh painting, is also quite striking. And without exception, every performance is flawless.
The opening track, “Imagination” is almost a stream of consciousness; somber and unrestrained, it perfectly sets the stage for the array of sounds to follow. “Dancing in the Shadows” evokes innocence and purity; raw and emotional, it seems to come from a place deep within the artist. “Quietly, Gentle, Peacefully” is warm and tender, reminiscent of a winter evening spent in front of the fireplace, staring into the flames with contentment. “Loneliness” put me in mind of a Chopin prelude; it begins with a plaintive melody over a simple chordal accompaniment, then segues into a more expansive middle section before the opening melody returns.
The mood shifts abruptly with “Joyful Moments,” a happy-go-lucky frolic across the piano keyboard. Listening to “Pierrot,” one can almost imagine the elegant clown from French pantomime standing behind a velvet curtain waiting to go onstage at the theatre. Containing elements of both yearning and nostalgia, “Prelude in E minor” is like a Bach prelude with a romantic twist. Profound in its simplicity, “In My Dreams” features a wistful melody accompanied by broken chords in the left hand. “Nocturne in E-flat” might have been inspired by the music of Chopin; this one is pensive and dreamy and evocative of nighttime.
“Summer into Fall” is a musical depiction shifting of the seasons, capturing all the joy of an Indian summer day yet tinged with sadness at the knowledge that winter is coming. Restless and passionate, “Yearning” is a passionate expression of the desires of the heart we all experience from time to time. “Elegy,” a sorrowful expression of loss, is followed by “Long Ago and Far Away,” bringing this lovely album to a delightful conclusion and left me with that feeling of “happily ever after.”
“Impressions” is a timeless collection, tapping into our shared emotions and experiences, and is one I will listen to again and again. Very highly recommended!
“Reflection” reviewed by Pam Asberry
“Reflection” is Shoshana Michel’s fourth released piano solo album and her third as a composer. The positive response to the release of her first album, “Soul Whispers,” her solo piano arrangements of beautiful songs of Jewish Eastern European origin, led her to resume the challenge of composing; in 2016, a full twenty-four years after she wrote her first solo piano piece for a student who shared her love of New Age Music, she released an album of original pieces, “Dancing on the Wind,” which was nominated for numerous awards. Her 2017 release, “Prelude to a Dream,” won One World Music Radio’s Solo Piano Album of the Year; her latest release, “Reflection,” was born out of the experience of finding herself as a composer and facing life’s challenges.
Recorded and engineered by Joe Bongiorno at Piano Haven Studios and featuring beautiful cover artwork by Matt Strieby, this is arguably Shoshana’s best work to date.
“A New Day Today” is a cheerful and buoyant opening to the album, a beautiful expression of the hope that each new day brings. “Shooting Stars” is more solemn and almost hypnotic and seems to express the childlike wonder at the astral phenomenon and the belief that making a wish on a shooting star can make it come true. “Finding Bliss” sparkles with a quiet joy, and articulates a sense of contentment and wellbeing. “Soothing the Tempest Within” is a luscious romantic piece reminiscent of the music of Chopin and communicates the grappling with inner demons that is a part of the human experience. “Bittersweet” is poignant and soul stirring, with a melody that is both melancholy and achingly beautiful; “Island in the Mist” is an impressionistic sound painting. The haunting “The Moon’s Lament” personifies the moon, imagining it looking down at the earth with sorrow at the sight of all the natural disasters, pain and suffering happening on the planet. “In a Time Lapse” presents alternating musical ideas – sometimes calm and soothing, sometimes dissonant and jarring, sometimes dark and brooding. “Forever and a Day” breathlessly anticipates a special event; “Labyrinth” features a sinuous melody with surprising twists and turns. “Through the Eyes of a Child” brings the album to a cheerful conclusion.
The combination of evocative composition and artistic execution make this album a delight from start to finish. Very highly recommended!
“Dancing on the Wind” reviewed by Donovan Johnson
“Dancing On The Wind” is the latest album release by nationally recognized pianist Shoshana Michel, and is her second neo-classical recording to date. The album is very appropriately titled, and the songs are programmed in a way that flows very smoothly from piece to piece. The overall feel of the music is quite light, melodic, and often dance-like. Although Shoshana is a classically trained pianist, I really wouldn’t categorize this recording as being neo-classical. The structure of the pieces and the generalized feeling that one gets when listening to it is one that is fresh, contemporary, and very modern in it’s composition and technique. Keeping with the theme of the album, it could be said that “Dancing On The Wind” is truly a “breath of fresh air.” My three picks for this recording are the opening track titled “When Leaves Dance,” track six “A Night Of Lights,” and track eight, “Wandering.” Let’s start with the opening track.
“When Leaves Dance” begins with a left hand ostinato pattern and a vibrant right hand melody to match it. The chord movement in this piece is really nice, particularly the movement to the major five chord that Shoshana frequently utilizes here. That progression is a really effective move in a minor piece, always demanding my attention when I hear it. This is not a “chordy” piece either. Both the right and left hands are playing melodies and patterns together that create a sort of “swirling” effect in the music, which goes right along with the title of the piece. Visions of autumn leaves falling from trees, and the crisp fall wind blowing piles of them in every which direction are what come to mind here.
“A Night Of Lights” is a story piece. It has a fairy tale sort of quality to it, bringing to mind images of old Europe and times which have been long forgotten. It’s a piece that celebrates it’s simplicity, and makes it into something truly remarkable. Shoshana does an amazing job at bringing so many things to the surface, and using little to do it. We have here a piece that is played for the most part in the mid-high register of the piano, a straightforward left hand pattern, and a strong and uncomplicated melody. In her playing Shoshana brings all of these things to their full potential, creating an intimate mood and a lush surrounding. Think medieval era castles under the moonlight, candles burning and flowers in bloom. That’s the vacation you take when listening to this piece. Her touch at the piano has a lot to do with sculpting this mood, along with the composition of the piece itself. Simply lovely, this is probably my favorite piece on the album.
My final pick is track eight, “Wandering.” As I’ve noted Shoshana has a gift at being able to create music and moods to fit the music, then titling and programming them in a way that fits like a glove. This piece is no exception. “Wandering” sounds like a journey taken without a knowable destination, and that journey is a familiar one to all of us. This is a journey of the heart, one that happens inside every person and within every relationship. It’s not as confusing as it is uncertain, and the music reflects that beautifully. The melody in the right seems to ask questions to the listener, but the phrasing is often resolved. This creates an experience that is interrogative in nature, but doesn’t seem to demand any answers either. It’s an intellectual piece that means to have the listener do some self examination, and quiet reflection. And while it’s certainly not a musical “warm fuzzy,” “Wandering” is a piece that will engage the listener in a way unlike any of the rest of the tracks on the album.
In summary, “Dancing On The Wind” is an album that is generally easy to listen to, with moments of engaged, focused listening. Many musical pictures are painted here, using a wide array of colors and textures, and this speaks to Shoshana’s mastery of touch and feel at the piano. I would add to that that the pieces themselves work together to create an album that’s really one large piece of work, a mural of sound, if you will. The pieces blend and flow from one to the next, each one unique but clearly a part of the whole, and together they represent the element of wind at it’s finest. With the exception of more aggressive musical approaches at the piano, this album would be suitable for just about any listener and I think they would find great value in it. If you’re a fan of genle, refreshing solo piano music I strongly recommend it!
“Soul Whispers” reviewed by Darla Bower
Each piece is steeped in ancient tradition and speaks of an ancient story. My experience with Jewish pieces is that they tend to be written in minor keys which give them hauntingly beautiful tones and rich melodies. I find the arrangements on Soul Whispers to be very rich in melodic tone and texture illustrating a piano story of Jewish journey. These melodies are emotive and contemporary in sound while honoring a deep ancient tradition and heritage. The word Nigun is named in several of the titles and means “melodies without words.”
Several tracks are particularly noteworthy and worth mention. Shamil -track number 3 is the story of Shamil, a leader who led his people with honor and speaks of his captivity and longing for freedom. I love the arpeggios throughout this lament of longing. These arpeggiatos are skillfully woven in this arrangement and lend to its emotional and spiritual impact. Nigun L’Shabbos V’Yom Tov I, II, and III (tracks 6, 9, and 12) heralds like a movement of three parts with each part provoking a melodic blend of spiritual reflection and songs of holidays or “holy days” with each being a “good day.” Nigun L’Shabbos V’Yom Tov III (track 12) is the completion of the movement and a powerful display of beautiful chords with unexpected notes in several phrases grabbing the attention of the listener. This piece in its entirety is both reverent and spiritually reflective at the hands of this master artist.
Upon speaking with Ms. Michel; her desire is for these beautiful melodies to promote healing and bring calmness to the listener which I believe was accomplished thoroughly in this musical delight. If the listener is looking for a spiritual experience then look no further because Soul Whispers delivers a profoundly spiritual and uplifting experience. I love that this work of art opens our hearts with a longing to understand another culture while appealing to everyone on life’s journey. Indeed, Soul Whispers can whisper to your soul. I highly recommend this beautiful CD.
Soul Whispers is available from www.shoshanamusic.com, Amazon, CD Baby and iTunes.