The Dance

It's back to the simple things for Kurt Bestor. On this trimmed-down work, he sticks to the basis of his musical prowess, namely the piano. In the majority of tracks, a straightforward piano melody shapes the story of a young daughter who dances her way through childhood with her father sharing every minute. Bestor does an appropriate job, as usual, at choosing the right instrumentation to fit the mood. As the book shares the joy of the father-daughter bond, the tender moments shine with a playful piano and light accompaniment. Perhaps the funnest moment is trying to pick out the bits of Tchaikovsky in a unique rendition of "Nutcracker Suite." The first track, "Dance for Me," is the only song with lyrics and is a poignant plea from the father's point-of-view in a Richard Marx-like voice. This album is likely to encourage and reflect upon affectionate relationships between parents and children.