"This album is an expression in the purest of musical forms – the piano. This album is all about my personal struggles and about my friend’s struggles as well. May it lift you up, and inspire you." - Kori Linae Carothers Track listing and liner notes: 1. A Day Like No Other 4:10 Kori Linae Carothers © 2010 People come and people go in our lives. “And she stood for all to see.” 2. NuNu’s Sunrise 2:45 Kori Linae Carothers © 2009 To Cari in loving memory. May your next Sunrise be free of heartache. 3. Meadow 3:48 Kori Linae Carothers © 2010 To Will Ackerman: whose support and guidance of my music has made me a better musician. This was inspired from working in the meadow with Will. He was cutting down a Birch tree. It was one of those moments in life where time slowed down, and it was one of those “ah, ha": moments. 4. Tidal Rift 4:22 Kori Linae Carothers © 2010 To my husband Don with love and appreciation of your constant love and respect. This song is inspired by, the beauty, pain, and the forgiveness in a relationship. 5. Fire in the Rainstorm 2:56 Kori Linae Carothers © 2011 To Tori and Mel with love. This was written with Tori in mind. Her life has been filled with Fire and Rain. My hopes that with all the adversity she has encountered, she will find love, beauty acceptance and above all, the ability to be free. 6. Time Passages 4:10 © Kori Linae Carothers © 2010 To my children. I love you with all of my heart. This song is inspired by the constant growth children go through, and how quickly time passes. If you have children or take care of them, and make every day count and tell them that you love them. 7. The Day 4:27 Kori Linae Carothers © 2004 To those that lost their lives on that fateful 911 day and those that gave their lives to save others. This was written long ago, and on my first album “The Road Less Traveled” as an electronic piece and turned it into what you are hearing now. Tom Eaton mentioned it was 10 years ago that this album was released 8. Winter’s End 2:32 Kori Linae Carothers © 2010 I wrote this at Imaginary Road Studios during the Echoes Holiday radio program. It was in October of 2010, and I really love fall, however winter can come and just freeze things to a stand still. When I returned this time to IRS, I felt the name had to be changed because winter was at its end and I saw just how joyous everyone was in the area. 9. Liberty 4:02 Kori Linae Carothers © 2010 This song was inspired by the shedding of so much past pain, disappointments and setting myself free from all the negativity from these past experiences. “There is always hope . . .” 10. The Kindly Beast 3:16 Kori Linae Carothers © 2013 This song is for my puppy Marvin. We adopted a crazy Shiba Inu mix dog a few years ago. He has become my pal. He follows me everywhere. He loves me and I love him! When I play the piano, he would get in the way of my hands, hence this song was born. See if you can guess what part in the song when he is a troublemaker. 11. Whispers of the Heart 3:18 Kori Linae Carothers © 2010 To Kathleen Ackerman: with my thanks and love. This song I wrote at my friend’s house in Minnesota, we talked about so many things that we both have gone through. This song is a testament that close friends and family really do help when we are going through trials. 12. When the Trees Fell 3:51 Kori Linae Carothers © 2010 To Susan and Will. This song was inspired by the demise of “The beloved five sisters”, a giant tree with five trunks growing from one root system. A terrible storm came and took them down. Thanks and Credits: This album is dedicated to my daughter Claire. My thanks to my husband, Don, my children: Jane, Ty and Samuel. I also want to thank Will Ackerman for believing in my musical abilities, I will never forget. Thanks to Tom Eaton, whom I connected with and am thankful for his endless endeavor to make this album to sound fabulous! To: Susan, thank you for being my voice. Thanks to: Tracey Cravens, you’ve been with me from the beginning, and you came with me full circle at Imaginary Road. All my love! Thank you for those that made this album possible from PledgeMusic.com! Thank you Arianna for all of your help! Thank you for those of you that donated your time, your talents, with us. Pat Sylvester, Barbara Ehlo Holbert, and Ember Lambert. Thank you also to Hearing Health Foundation! Special thanks to Concert Grand Producers: Claire Carothers, Kathleen Ackerman, Thomas and Becky Foth, Mary Jo Lisa and to Mihir and Tejal Munsif. All songs written by: Kori Linae Carothers Produced by: Will Ackerman, Tom Eaton and Kori Linae Carothers Engineered by: Tom Eaton Executive Producer: Claire M. Carothers Mixed and Mastered by: Tom Eaton at Imaginary Road Studios, Vermont Visit Will Ackerman online: williamackerman.com Visit Tom Eaton online: thomaseaton.com Photo front cover photo: Sarah Char • sarahchar.com Inside photo: Jason Wallis Photography • wallisphoto.com Graphic Design: Debra Silverman • dlsgraphics.net A Beautiful Mind art: Agsandrew/dreamstime.com Contact Kori: kcarothers@mac.com • web: koritunes.com For additional info. on the songs, quotes and photos, please visit: koritunes.com Reviews: Kori Linae Carothers Fire in the Rain Storm IRoknNod Records Sonic Alchemy I would listen to Kori Linae Carother’s album just on the title alone…Fire In The Rainstorm. It is delightfully ambiguous. It is intriguing. It is impossible…or is it? I have listened to all of Kori’s music and frankly, I thought her last album was her best, but she has proved me wrong. The degree of depth and maturity on this recording is remarkable. On Fire In The Rainstorm, Kori shares with us twelve wonderful tales, first account sightings and memorable impressions using contemporary solo piano. This is her everyday life set to music, and the music is profound. The album is dedicated to her daughter and as many know, having a child can bring to your life not only joy, but also perspective. A Day Like No Other, musically, is the witness to a little miracle. It is the rain in the garden, just paid all my bills, didn’t forget my mom’s birthday this year kind of day. It is the day you mark on the calendar of your heart and remember it forever. The melancholic melody of Time Passages is like looking into an old photo album. Some of the memories have curly edges and the cellophane tape has lost most of its power, while others maintain their vibrant colors and sharp images in our minds. There is nothing ambiguous in the title tune Fire In The Rainstorm. It is a thoughtful song, and to my ear, a song of gratitude. Our lives are full of contradictions, strife, and heartache. Once in awhile though, something happens or someone in your life gives you the nod or the smile or the hug just when you least expect it. It does not exactly call for a celebration, but under your breath, you say thank God. I really like winter music and I really like Winter’s End. Kori gives the tune a warm, bright intro as if to signify the advent of spring. On the tallest mountains, the sun’s heat glows steady. The icy crust, what was once a heavy winter’s snow, transforms into life giving waters soon to nourish the green hiding just below the surface. The cycle begins again. Liberty is an upbeat tune with a definite cadence. It may be the sound of self-determination or celebrating the opening of a door long barred and forbidden. It could be the turning of a corner to get a new viewpoint or perhaps a major change in your life. In any case, this complex tune is one I will remember for the fluid, engaging melody. The Kindly Beast is a story for Marvin, Kori’s puppy. Some creatures hide under the bed or in the closet. Some peek through the window when the wind blows or some hide in your shadow. But not this one. This one plays in the sunshine, feeds the goldfish, and closes the bathroom door. He is a gentle guardian of a vivid imagination. When the Tree Fell, the final cut on Fire In The Rainstorm is a moody piece. Its somewhat somber tones denote not exactly sadness, but surprise and wonder. As lightning glared in the sky, the harsh wind had its way and the tree, with a mighty crack tumbled to the ground. The next day we climbed along its trunk and said goodbye, but then, that is when we saw the metal box… You can replay these songs over and over as I did and discover fresh nuances with every turn. There is subtlety and craftsmanship in these tales. There is also a mother’s heart embedded deeply in every note. Fire In The Rainstorm is Kori Linae Carothers tour de force, catering to those who love great piano music, and who always sleep with one eye open, and waiting to hear those tiny footsteps in the hallway. RJ Lannan Rating: Very Good+ Kori L Carothers ditched her electronic keyboards (which she wielded so well on previous releases such as Trilium and The Road Less Traveled) and sat down at her piano sans all other accompaniment to record Fire in the Rainstorm, an album that shines a whole new light on her composing and performing talents. Recorded at Imaginary Roads under the watchful gaze of Will Ackerman, Fire in the Rainstorm is filled with warm piano melodies - somber and melancholic, gently romantic, wistful and reflective, or dramatic and emotionally powerful - always played with rare sensitivity and obvious depth of sincerity and true conviction. Carothers was supposedly concerned about how these unadorned piano instrumentals would be received by fans of her earlier works, but unless those folks don't appreciate great music, wonderful playing, and a tapestry of evocations spread across twelve tracks, I have to believe they will be thoroughly delighted with this album. Fire in the Rainstorm showcases Carothers' artisan's technique and her poet's soul equally and is bound to swell the ranks of her fans considerably. Bill Binkelman Zone Music Reporter