Elements Series: Air

Although the elegant, atmospheric-minded pianist took a few successful sojourns into light funk, smooth jazz territory in the '90s, he's always been one of new age music's true greats. What could be a better fit for him to continue his love affair with spacious sounds than joining with Real Music, a label committed to the type of lightly rhythmic, healing music new age is famous for. Air is one of four discs Peter Kater has recorded as part of the Elements Series, a collection he says came "from that essential place we all aspire towards: that place of tenderness, love, trust and intuition." Dreamy, floating, and relaxing, the four-track Air collection (the longest being the 20-minute "Wings of Sound") truly breathes on the wings of four elements: natural ambiences; Kater's lush melodic flow; Richard Hardy's bamboo and silver flutes; and Grammy-nominated Paul McCandless' pennywhistles, oboe, bass clarinet, and soprano sax. Sometimes track titles on collections like these come across as generic, but if you let your spirit give in to the soothing journey, you'll find a connection with "All Souls" finding a gentle joy in finally reaching "Heaven's Gate."