Die Suche war erfolgreich, man muss sich nur die Zeit gönnen. Ich habe wieder eine CD gefunden, die sich durch wiederholtes Hören zu einem echten Juwel entwickelt hat. Der Fund: "Miracle River" von Amy Holland McDonald.
Amy Holland McDonald's Solokarriere begann Anfang der 80er Jahre. Ihr vielbeachtetes Debut bescherte ihr einen Grammy als "Best new Artist". Ihr zweites Album "On your every word" mit Musikern wie Jeff Porcaro, Mike Baird, Nathan East, Robben Ford, Steve Lukather, Michael McDonald, David Pack, Richard Page, Steve George und unzähligen Anderen wurde ein Meilenstein der Westcoast Szene. Bei den Aufnahmesessions lernte sie Michael MCDonald kennen und lieben, sie heirateten, bekamen Nachwuchs und von Amy Holland war 20 Jahre lang musikalisch kaum etwas zu hören.

[Bernie Chiaravalle], Gitarrist u.a. von Michael McDonald traf sich die letzten Jahre immer wieder zu "Writing sessions" mit Amy. Er schickte mir die CD "Miracle River" für deren Produktion er sich ebenfalls verantwortlich zeichnet. Als Multiinstrumentalist übernimmt er außerdem die Gitarren, Keyboards, Piano, Mandoline, Bass und ab und an auch die Vocalparts. Die weiteren Musiker sind im Wesentlichen Drummer Shannon Forest und wechselnde Gäste an Violine, Cello, Orgel, Harmonica, Fretless Bass und Anderem.
Ein behutsames, intimes Stück Musik ist es geworden. Die Reise zum Miracle River beginnt mit einer Komposition von Robben Ford. Die Melodielinie der Violine und die akustische Instrumentierung getragen durch Amy's Gesang bezaubert durch seinen Purismus.
Chiaravalles bluesgetränkte Slideguitar eskortiert von einem breiten Hammondteppich, so präsentiert sich "Backdown". Amy und ihr Ehemann Michael McDonald liefern sich ein hinreißendes Gesangsduell. "Sixteen years of you is driving me crazy. I've been following you like a dog. You say I've been nothing but trouble. It's been going on for too long." Die Musik und Amys Gesang erinnern an Bonnie Raitt.
Mit "Foottapping" eröffnet; Ein gläsernder Orgelsound und ein sehnsüchtiges Cello entführen zum Titelsong "Miracle River".

Review:
My search was successful, take your time is the answer. I've found a CD that becomes a favorite after taking enough time to listen. Te trove: "Miracle River" from Amy Holland McDonald.
Amy Holland McDonalds solo career started in the beginnig of the 80s. Her debut received a grammy as "best new artist". Here 2nd album "On your every word" with musicians like Jeff Porcaro, Mike Baird, Nathan East, Robben Ford, Steve Lukather, Michael McDonald, David Pack, Richard Page, Steve George and countless others become a milestone of the westcoast genre. During the recording sessions she fell in love with Michael McDonald. They married and give birth to two children and for 20 years nearly nothing musicalwise was heard from Amy Holland again. [Bernie Chiaravalle], Michael McDonalds Guitarplayer met Amy during the last years for writing sessions. He sent me "miracle river" and I'm thankful for that. Bernie is beside the songwriting responsible for the production, plays guitars, keyboards, bass, piano, mandoline and is singing now and then, he's the master of the instrumental section. The other musicians are Shannon Forest on drums and changing guests on violin, cello, organ, harmonica and other instruments.
It's a gentle, intimate part of music. The Journey to miracel river starts with a composition of Robben Ford. The violene's melodyline and the acoustic instrumentation carried by Amy's voice fascinated with its purism.
Bernie Chariavalles bluessoaked slideguitar escorted by a broad carpet of hammondsounds, this is "Breakdown". Amy and her husband Michael McDonald are joining for a captivating vocalduel. "Sixteen years of you is driving me crazy. I've been following you like a dog. You say I've been nothing but trouble. It's been going on for too long." The music and Amy's vocalwork is close to Bonnie Raitt.
Opened by foottapping; a blistering organsound and a wistful cello are the essentials of the title track "Miracle River".
"For a few short hours, Everything is possible. I forget the game and all the rules, That hold my spirit in. For a few short hours I remember who I really am. In the colors of the rising sun, before the day begins, for a few short hours". Here Amy's voice close to Christine McVie from Fleetwood Mac. Bernie's shining as the multiinstrumental musician.
Vince Gill, countrystar of the Nashvielle community backs Amy's vocals on "Everybody wants to be your friend."
"My little rebel" and "honest emotion" are closing a CD, by which you are forced to push the "play-button" after the last tones have faded.


Press:
Amy Holland's 3rd solo CD, “The Journey To Miracle River”, her first album in 20 years , has just been released. Amy started her musical career at 15 year old when she migrated to LA to sign with Brother records a label started by the Beach Boys. However it was a randomly brief but fortuitous rehearsal encounter with a relatively unknown composer, and for the moment, piano accompanist Michael McDonald, during these early years that would lead ultimately to Amy's success at radio years later, winning her a best new artist nomination at the Grammy Awards of 1980. McDonald who, years later, remembering the allure of her vocal style, would join forces with keyboardist/composer/producer, Patrick Henderson to produce her first album including the top 20 hit “How do I Survive,” written by Paul Bliss. A second album “On Your Every Word” and musical contributions to films such as “Scar Face” and “Teen Wolf” along with her contributions to the projects of other artist’s such as Kenny Loggins, Joni Mitchell, Tim Weisburg, Doobie Brother Patrick Simmons and McDonald’s solo projects, would mark her career path for the next few years. During this time her music business relationship with Michael McDonald had developed into something much more and with their marriage and the subsequent birth of their two children, Amy found herself embracing the role of wife and mother. discovering along the way that she had to somewhat relax her grip on her lifelong dream of being a recording artist. After a much longer than intended hiatus due to a battle to survive breast cancer, Amy has found a renewed inspiration in the making and release of her most recent CD “The Journey To Miracle River”. Produced by Bernie Chiaravalle, this Album is very much the autobiography of a personal sojourn she was destined to return from at this point in her life, It’s her first solo CD release in over 20 years.