Andy Milne had no intention of recording a solo piano CD focusing on typical standards, so he instead chose to mine the relatively untapped music popular with rock audiences of the 1970s and 1980s, with surprising results. Milne is hardly the first jazz musician to record a work by Sting, but his lyrical, pastoral setting of Message in a Bottle unveils its potential in a jazz setting. Neil Young's work is a more startling choice, though Milne's dramatic improvisation of After the Gold Rush may not be easily recognizable to Young's fans, as his hints at its theme are fleeting. Milne slows down Don't Let It Bring You Down and sticks closer to its roots, offering a stunning interpretation. The pianist's approach to the late reggae giant Bob Marley's I Shot the Sheriff frees the tune from its trademark rhythm, which broadens its appeal to listeners who never investigated the genre seriously. His tense setting of Bob Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin' incorporates an ominous vamp and signals a warning that there are clouds on the horizon. Joni Mitchell's The Circle Game is another gem, cast as a reflective ballad suggesting a quiet day alone in the country. Milne's three originals are also compelling performances, highlighted by his playful The Metamorph. He closes the disc with a touching one-chorus arrangement of Danny Boy that proves there is plenty of new ground to be found in this popular old Irish air. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi

1		Amelia
2		Geewa
3		Message in a Bottle
4		I Shot the Sheriff
5		After the Goldrush
6		The Times They Are A-Changin'
7		The Metamorph
8		Don't Let it Bring You Down
9		Sensei-tions
10		The Circle Game
11		Danny Boy
12		Digital Booklet: Dreams And False Alarms