The Circle-Maker by Joel Pierson
In 2009, I had the life-changing opportunity to work for 4 months as a piano instructor on a world cruise. In addition to seeing Fiji and Russia in the same trip, meeting friends who are still part of my life today, and having more fun than should be legal, I discovered a composer who writes the sort of music I love to play.
Joel Pierson was the ship orchestra's pianist and in that capacity performed everything from classical to show tunes to pop, to jazz. His compositions reflect his eclectic influences. Case in point: Joel currently lives in New York City, where he's formed a group that performs his jazz arrangements of (wait for it) cartoon music. Check them out at The Queen's Cartoonists.
I've performed quite a few of Joel's pieces, but The Circle Maker is my favorite. This video is one I put together shortly after I recorded and released A Spin on It. The glaciers? Shots I took from the deck of the ship when we were in Glacier Bay, AK.
To listen to more of Joel's music, or to order copies: