David Franklin - One Day in Spring - 2.0 Hi-Res download review

It is likely that every one of us has woken to a day with nothing scheduled on the calendar and no real plan of how they want to spend that free time. Then in somewhat of an epiphany, thoughts roll into their mind, leading them on an unexpected trajectory. This is how David Franklin describes his inspired single day at the piano creating his eleventh album “One Day in Spring.”

On this particular day the house was quiet, as other family members were out of town. Waking before sunrise, pianist and composer David Franklin opened the back door to let in the cool fresh air before sitting down at the grand piano. Coincidently the microphones and recording equipment were already set up, and as a soft rain fell outside, he pressed record and started to play a series of improvisational pieces.

Unlike any of his previous works, One Day in Spring is an album of solo piano improvisations that are gentle, evocative, and emotional. Franklin blends single notes over free-flowing chords that welcome the new day, in a very meditative fashion, all recorded on March 16, 2024.

The first seven songs were literally created in a single take, effectively with no real break. Then the morning tea was calling, leading to the caffeine inspired final 3 songs. David comments “I was definitely more aware of the nature of my waking mind, combined with my intuitions and my thinking…” But we will get there a bit further down this page.

The album tentatively begins with a few melodic notes on the opening track “Just Before Dawn,” calling gently into the darkness. Meandering to find the light, the melody explores new pathways, creating a mellow and thought-provoking soundscape. There is an openness to the recording, written direct to digital in stereo using two AKG 414 microphones.

The album continues with “The Gloaming” with shimmering bursts of notes that rise and fall, beckoning the new day. The fiery bursts are accented by breathtaking pauses evoking the ever-changing twilight between the dark and the light.

Thanks to the high quality 24-bit recording, one can hear birds chirping deeply in the background on “Another Bird in the Garden.” The tone shifts to become more playful, developing a call and response melody that emulates the sound of migrating birds and bird songs that Franklin associates with spring. The song evolves from bare melodies to actual chords that build depth, creating a full structure, then returns to the sparseness that opened the song.

Throughout the album, the solo piano spreads widely across the stereoscape, with a textured depth that elevates the aural quality somewhat into the ethereal. I personally classify this improvised music as New Age, and even feel a bit of the classic Windham Hill artistry shining through, especially the sound of pianist George Winston, who is honored later on this album. Audiophiles will enjoy the rich lower octaves and the sparkling upper octaves that have been subtly remixed to balance and widen the stereo field. Dynamics throughout are very good, with a striking brilliance to the higher keys.

As the daybreak arrives, Franklin nears the end of his improvisational journey with “As Light of Mourning Finally Arrives.” Coming out of the darkness, shadows sharpen into focus with a rhythmic undertow that welcomes the dawn. The piece quiets once again as it culminates with a series of single notes stretching peacefully into the light.

The initial improvisational section ends with the seventh track “Night Has Left Us All” at which point Franklin steps away for a moment to brew his morning tea. He returns with “Remembering George Winston” reminiscent of a melody that sounds familiar, flowing and sentimental. For me the most quintessential New Age sounding piece ironically is titled “Caffeinated and Reconsidering Slime Molds” which seemingly calls forth the many pianists of this modern genre. Starting steadily the song assembles a variety of melodic phrases, from the downright sleepiness to becoming energized, this piece traverses from mellow to near hyped, swirling back into the calmness as the spike of caffeine settles.

Possibly a full circle and reflection of one of Franklin’s earliest albums from 1990 called “Our Children’s Only Home,” the closing track “Trees and Silences are Living Beings” is bold and strong, much like the red woods near his home in the bay area. The fullness of the bottom notes ring out drawing strength from the roots of the trees and exemplified by the chordal and melodic overtones that reach for the sky. As a reviewer I have come to learn over the many years of listening to music, that some of the best work is created in flashes of inspiration. Simply allowing the language of sound and melody to fall from the fingers without deep planning and undue arrangement. In fact, some of my favorite albums have fallen into this camp, and One Day in Spring is now added to that list.

Recommended for listeners of New Age music, those who enjoy solo piano pieces, and of course fans who follow David Franklin. Available as a lossless download in 24-bit from BandCamp.

Released June 7, 2024

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 About the Author

Wesley is a lifelong music enthusiast. He started his career in the recording industry in New York City as an audio engineer, producer, and studio manager. Subsequently he toured across America as a guitarist with the short-lived band Land's Crossing. After many years in the technology sector and amassing a substantial vinyl and CD collection, he delved into immersive audio and created Hi-Res Edition to share with other listeners about the sound quality and discrete mixes available on many formats. He recently upgraded his system to 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos and continues to seek out and share about the best sounding releases.