press

Anthony Bennett

cdreviews.com

"The music scene of Chicago, particularly in its lauded blues and soul iterations, has long been noted for its unique mix of musical virtuosity and a keen sense of self, creating a soundscape that transcends the class and race divisions inherent in urban society. Blues musicians, who came upriver from the Delta looking for work, be it in music or manufacturing, knew the trials and tribulations of their audience in part because the only real separation from that audience was a stage door. In Almost There, his third collection of piano solos Chicago schoolteacher-by-day Michael Strening demonstrates that the Windy City's bridge connecting virtuosity and accessibility has held up well: though his compositions seem at first the product of a cloister of intellectualism, every song retains an emotional availability and empathy for all humanity that defines Chicago music, and always has." [full review]

Gary Dunham, Co-host, "The Morning Fog"

WVUD 91.3 FM, Newark DE

"Michael Strening Jr.'s Stars CD offers up a host of wondering melodies. Close your eyes as you listen to Michael painting moods with his fingers of places and times in your life, in his life, in all of our lives. His music is great for waking and fabulous for relaxing or just chilling. Strening packages easy listening piano solos for the masses with a punch. Enjoy."

DJ Deepspace

Radio Beckwith, FM 91.4/96.5 MHZ, Torino, Italia

“Michael Strening Jr. ha una forza espressiva che lascia il segno, unita a una delicatezza che commuove”

John Greenspan, Program Director

KSFR 90.7 FM, Santa Fe, NM

“Michael has a keen sense of the world around him, and he has the unique ability to express that awareness in his music.”

Mick Freeman, Classical Music Program Host

WQUB 90.3 FM, Quincy, IL

"To some the word Romantic has an ugly meaning. It's considered old fashioned, boring even predictable. It's a style of music that has had it's day and there's no where else for it to go. Michael Strening Jr. disproves those thoughts.

"His music IS romantic, but at the same time it's current, relative to you and me. Sure, there's a hint of Chopin here and there, but it's also whimsical in part, there's a relaxed feel that you don't experience with the piano music of the 19th century. This isn't a pianist/composer trying to show you how good he is, this is one man trying to communicate his feelings in music and he succeeds remarkably well.

"There's a feeling of longing to much of his music, one feels that, much like an artist, Strening is trying to express in music what he sees and feels. Listen, share and enjoy.”