New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Ponder Dust Music) "Journey Around The Sun: A Mayan Odyssey" (released Aug 3, 2011) is the follow-up to the Bill Wren and Frank Ralls 2008 debut "One Day in a Life" (which hit No 1 on FM new age music radio stations around the US in 2010, and was picked up by
Sirius XM satellite radio). Not to be outdone, the new "Journey Around The Sun" has also just hit No 1 on FM new age radio for the month of August, 2011 (zonemusicreporter.com) and is currently being played on
Sirius XM satellite radio.
The new album was inspired by Wren's fascination with the Mayan civilization and its 2012 prophecy. It is a concept album centered on a voyage of exploration and discovery - a soundtrack of sorts - with a broad range of world music influences. Much of the music has a big cinematic sweep and is very visual.
Wren and Ralls invited some very talented guests to the project including:
Disney Orchestrator Terry Winch
Yanni Vocalist Michelle Amato
Concertmaster (Jacksonville Symphony) Philip Pan
Acclaimed Jazz Composer Ike Sturm
Acclaimed Guitarist
Sandy Williams
Acclaimed Cellist Nick Curry
"...the sound quality is superb - crystal-clear yet very warm. It is no surprise that the album has already hit #1 on ZoneMusicReporter.com." -Kathy Parsons (MainlyPiano.com)
"...the 14 tracks on the CD retain the duo's winning ways with an abundance of the same warm, accessible melodies which made their debut such a critical success." -Bill Binkelman (Zone
Music Reporter and New Age Retailer magazine)
"Each instrumentalist is at the peak of his or her powers, beautifully complementing each other without overshadowing each other and yet maintaining his or her unique talents. All of this comes together seamlessly under the creative and technical guidance of Wren and Ralls." Raj Manoharan (New Age Reviewer: rajmanreviews.blogspot.com)
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