Best of Pastel

Who's going to argue with a new age pianist who puts the images of musical notes cascading down a mountain waterfall on the cover of his greatest-hits package? That's a good matching visual for his caressing but often powerful ability to tap into the listener's emotions. Kern's compositions are fairly staid and reflective, very piano-focused, with some dramatic synth orchestra accompaniment. This disc draws from his five acclaimed discs in the Real Music catalog, mostly original compositions in addition to his gorgeous takes on "In My Life" and Elton John's little-recognized but gorgeous "We All Fall in Love Sometimes." The wistful lullaby "Children at Play" is a new track, and he creates a new orchestration for the previously released "Out of the Darkness." If Jim Brickman is too poppy for you, the quieter, less-commercial, always-exquisite intimacy of Kevin Kern just might be the ticket.