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Title: Fiona Joy Hawkins – Signature-Solo (2014)
Genre: Easy Listening, Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Fiona Joy Hawkins is an Australian composer, vocalist, and pianist, who uses the stage-name Fiona Joy. She has several award-winning albums produced by Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill. Ackerman says, “One of the brightest lights in the Contemporary Instrumental genre, Fiona Joy is poised to move into stardom”. “Signature-Solo” is Fiona’s debut album of solo contemporary piano music. This album also marks Tiny Island Music’s debut as record/imprint label under the well known audiophile label, Blue Coast Music Group, recorded live to analog tape and the label’s first native DSD release. Included on the album is new performance of Fiona Joy’s song Grace, which was part of a Grammy winning album in 2015.

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Title: Fiona Joy Hawkins – Into The Mist (2017)
Genre: New Age
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

A collection of neo-classical compositions, Fiona expresses a vast array of emotions in her journey through the mist. Picturesque and thought provoking these songs flow quietly for an hour of dreams. Fiona’s three part Opus, the heart of this collective work, is a journey that begins shrouded in mystery. “Moon Over the Lotus Pond” is her tribute to the people of China who have welcomed her so warmly.

Into the Mist is Fiona Joy’s second album on the Blue Coast Records label. Produced by Cookie Marenco, the album was recorded in the highest digital fidelity possible using a new format called Direct Stream Digital (DSD). The physical CD is an “Audiophile Edition” and is quite expensive, so unless you have really good equipment, downloading or streaming is a much more economical option. I have good speakers in my office and the sound quality using those speakers is remarkable, but I honestly couldn’t hear much difference in my car or in my wake-up alarm. Into the Mist is a solo piano recording, and Fiona performs on a 7’ Steinway grand that dates back to 1885. As the title suggests, the music is impressionistic and flows freely without restrictions. Fairly consistent in mood throughout, the music is played at a relaxed and leisurely tempo that often suggests the slow, graceful movement of a dancer, water or foggy mists. Most of the ten pieces are new, but at least three have appeared on previous albums as ensemble pieces. Solo piano really suits Fiona’s elegant and sensuous playing style and I hope she’ll consider doing more of it. Into the Mist opens with “A Walk in the Park,” an easy-going piece that evokes images of warm sunshine, children playing on a green expanse of lawn, and the simple joy of going for a long walk. “Moon Over the Lotus Pond” is very “misty” and fluid, suggesting the slow, graceful movement of dark water in the moonlight. There are hints of an Asian musical influence, but this piece is very impressionistic – suggesting rather than explaining the feeling of being in such a place. Next is a three-part opus, which is the centerpiece of the album. Part 1, “Into the Mist,” is a beautiful piece that is both haunting and poignant as well as somewhat more intense than most of the other tracks. Part 2, “Mist Rising,” is classic Fiona Joy with a softly flowing left hand and a more percussive right hand that crosses into the bass of the piano as well as playing in the upper half of the keyboard. The second half of the piece picks up the tempo with a repeated rolling chord pattern in the left hand and a dancing right hand that showcases Fiona’s mastery of her instrument. Part 3 is “Mist Before Dawn,” something I am quite familiar with here on the Oregon Coast! Again, very impressionistic and without hard edges, Fiona makes great use of the dampers and the low bass of the piano. “Through Cloud” suggests the effortless peace of floating slowly on a cloud, totally relaxed and worry-free. “Feeling Sunshine” is one of the older pieces, but sounds quite different as a piano solo. Energetic and joyful, it’s a nice contrast to some of the less-structured pieces. “The Void” is also classic Fiona Joy and has appeared on a couple of earlier albums. As a solo, the emotional impact of the piece is very tangible and direct – a lovely close to an excellent album. If you like graceful, peaceful and emotionally-rich solo piano, be sure to check out Into the Mist! Highly recommended.

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Title: Fiona Joy Hawkins – Story of Ghosts (2018)
Genre: New Age
Format: SACD ISO

New Age artist Fiona Joy brings many gifts and skills to her solo piano performance of the title song on Story of Ghosts. Your mind will fill in the pictures as you take the ride. With skill and confidence, she sets the mood with a minor melody, then adds upper harmony and begins altering the pace gently. In a bit over three minutes, she has you imagining downstairs and upstairs, unexplained sounds, sad ghosts making their nightly visits. Then, “Story of Angels” provides a companion piece with just enough changes to the harmony and tempo to signify a different kind of spirit-being. Elsewhere in the album, Fiona creates portraits of “The White Light,” a “Blue Dream,” and “The Solo Tango.” Story of Ghosts was recorded in DSD256 using an improved system of cabling that was not available until this recording. You’ll hear the clarity of the piano as if you were sitting behind the keyboard, as Fiona Joy brings forth its many moods and sound textures.

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Title: Fiona Joy Hawkins – 600 Years In A Moment (2013)
Genre: New Age
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Australian new age pianist, singer, and composer known for her Celtic-themed recordings. Her 2013 album 600 Years in a Moment draws on Celtic music from her family traditions as well as vocal and instrumental performances representing Mongolia, Hungary, China, Africa, Tibet, Ireland, the Middle East, Native America centered around her playing on a 102-key Stuart and Sons piano, being recorded in Newcastle (Australia), at Imaginary Road Studios (Vermont), Los Angeles, New York, Bremen and Portland (Maine), and Halifax (Canada). Featured musicians include cellist Eugene Friesen (Paul Winter Consort), bassist Tony Levin (Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel), drummer Jeff Haynes (Pat Metheney) and violinist Charlie Bisharat (Yanni), violinist/vocalist Rebecca Daniel (Australian Chamber Orchestra) as well as guitarists Will Ackerman and Todd Boston. The album was awarded the Best Instrumental Album – Piano at the 2013 ZMR Music Awards.

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Title: Fiona Joy Hawkins – Christmas Joy (2011)
Genre: New Age, Vocal Pop
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Fiona Joy Hawkins breathes life into a traditional repertoire deeply in need of a new perspective and new energy. The recording offers an inventive and joyful approach to the music which has been taken for granted for decades. Both in her unique slant on traditional music and in her wonderful original compositions, Christmas Joy is an utterly brilliant creation and a recording of stellar beauty for the season. – Will Ackerman, founder Windham Hill Records Christmas Joy will make you smile, if there is one album you should buy for Christmas …… it s this one. Andy Busuttil –Blue Mountains Sound

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