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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Composer John Steiner Goes Into the Green

New CD heralds the official arrival of this exciting and spiritual solo pianist

San Francisco (July 21, 2009)

Impressionism, Romance, and a Zen-like simplicity combine for a unique and satisfying listening experience in John Steiner’s new solo piano release, Into the Green.

Into the Green is the second solo piano CD by Steiner, and includes the beautiful track, Midnight, as well as interpretations of Puccini and Chopin. His influences run from experimental jazz to Indian music, but ask Steiner about the inspiration for his new solo piano album, and you are likely to receive a divine-sounding response.

"I feel most connected to the flow of spirit when channeling new music,” says the composer of Into the Green, the follow up to his critically-acclaimed album, Out of the Blue.

“Many of these improvisations eventually become written compositions ending up on my CDs. My true intention is to bring healing vibrations to the world through my music.”

Steiner, former keyboardist for the original boy band The New Edition, hails from a Queens, New York musical family of six. He currently enjoys a successful career as music teacher, choir director, and film composer in San Francisco where he enjoys exploring the beauty of nearby Marin County.

Steiner’s new album includes 14 tracks inspired by personal relationships, experiences, nature and even death. While recording at producer J S Kingfisher’s Philomuse studio in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Steiner enjoyed hiking in his free time, which he believes may have enhanced the album’s refreshing sound.

Tracks like Rain and Morning Bright reflect his deep appreciation for nature. Inspired by John's music, Andy Markley of Art101.com created a YouTube video sampler to accompany the piece “Sunrise.”

Yolanda was born from music Steiner created in memory of a dear friend who died of ovarian cancer. He also wrote music to uplift his family through three days of memorial services for his father, to whom he attributes his appreciation of nature.

“Music can be very transformative at ceremonies; the music helps set a healing tone for the days surrounding the services. I’d like to do more of that,” he says.

Other tracks came into being through piano improvisations Steiner creates during Sunday worship services at the First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael, and the San Francisco Center for Spiritual Living. For instance, during a performance in December, Steiner asked for one-word suggestions from the audience regarding mood or thought, and explored various ways to improvise on these concepts. A woman in the audience suggested the word “peace,” and subsequently, the final version of the improvisational work is found on Into the Green.

Additional tracks such as Song for a Lonely Meteorite and Mozart in Ireland hint at the more whimsical side of Steiner’s music, creating visions of an ever-searching meteorite on the go, or Mozart enjoying the music and rolling hills of the old country.

J S Kingfisher (Vesica Piscis, Muzoracle, Musician’s Dice) is releasing the album on his innovative Philomuse label. Philomuse audio products will be distributed to record retail, Amazon, mainstream one-stops, and book chains such as Borders and Barnes & Noble via Clay Pasternack, Inc.

New Leaf Distributing is also on board to service the new age book and gift store market.  Suzanne Doucet, of Only New Age Music, Inc., also consults on the project.

Simultaneously, Philomuse is reissuing Steiner’s earlier album, Out of the Blue, which received the following praise from CD Baby:

"With romantic and impressionistic influences, this is the perfection of classical embracing easy listening. These elegant, moving and cozy pieces for piano, cello and vocals are the epitome of this genre...way too intelligent to skip past."

Of the latest production, producer J S Kingfisher notes, “It's inspired by John’s deep connection to nature; Into the Green is rich with the sincerity and intelligence John’s fans have come to love and expect."

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