What People Are Saying
“The nods to Max Richter’s romantic take on modern classical are undoubtedly here, as are the earlier stages of Klaus Schulze’s output. By combining these methods, the surreal alongside the emotionally charged, there’s a brilliance, a neat balance between the two extremes ... Beautiful Illusion presents a highly tasteful experience of the classical and modern, with Jon Wirtz being a patient, skilled sound sculptor.” - SkopeMag.com
“I could see the life of man in Jon Wirtz's music. Very sweet, warm, cozy and concise with jazz or contemporary style.” - HNR Internet Radio
“Beautiful Illusion demonstrates Wirtz’s versatility as a musician and reflects his artistic evolution. The album’s unique sound, which defies easy categorization, invites listeners to explore a realm where tradition meets innovation. With its soul-stirring compositions and profound themes, Beautiful Illusion promises to be a transformative listening experience.” - New Age Music Guide
“Whether you are deep in the journey of befriending death or simply seeking calming, intentional music, this album may be a balm for the soul.” - Conscious Dying Collective
“Great release.” - KUAC/Nightlight, Alaska
“Grateful for this release.” - Bradley Stoke Radio, United Kingdom
Musician Credits:
Jon Wirtz - piano, organ, synth, rhodes, vibraphone, string arrangements, co-producer
Adrienne Short (Colorado Symphony, Nathaniel Rateliff) - violin on Beautiful Illusion, Lullaby For Sleepless Nights, Watching Yourself Go By
Eve Panning (Big Richard, Nathaniel Rateliff) - violin on Beautiful Illusion, Lullaby For Sleepless Nights, Watching Yourself Go By
Aniel Cabal (Colorado Symphony) - viola on Beautiful Illusion, Lullaby For Sleepless Nights, Watching Yourself Go By
Joy Adams (Big Richard, Nathaniel Rateliff) - cello on Beautiful Illusion, Lullaby For Sleepless Nights, Watching Yourself Go By
Joe Mazza - guitar, effects on Invocation, Nightish, The Seer, Day One
Nate Miller - trumpet, alto saxophone, effects on Borrowed Time
Alissa Ann - vocals on The Seer
Kyle Jones - Co-Producer, synth programming. Mixed and mastered by Kyle Jones at Brotherhood Studios. Recorded/Engineered everything other than acoustic piano (and vocals).
Dave Beegle - Recorded/Engineered all acoustic piano tracks at Dawghouse Studios
Composer/Arranger Credits - All Songs composed/arranged by Jon Wirtz. All string arrangements also done by Jon Wirtz.
Album Artwork - Design/concept by Adam Sniezek, text alterations by Niko Sayag.
It is often said that meaningful art tells a story, and the best art is inspired by real life experience. This proves true for the Wirtz’s 3rd album Beautiful Illusion, a bold turn from the improvisational stylings of his previous jazz releases. He explains:
“After the unexpected passing of a friend, I found myself devastated and unable to play piano or sleep for weeks. Eventually I would wake up in the middle of the night with short melodies in my head and race to the piano to jot them down. I didn’t have any big plans for them, I just told myself I’d be patient and allow the ideas to come through. I didn’t want to force anything. In hindsight it was sort of a healing process.”
Over the next 10 years, songs started to form, and an album started to take shape. Despite the record being purely instrumental—aside from a few inspired quotes from 60s icon Ram Dass and renowned Indian philosopher Swami A. Parthasarathy—a storyline started to emerge. From a 50,000 foot view, the record plays beautifully as the inner monologue for a person entering a slumber and entering into a deep, dreamful sleep. Zoom in, and the storyline takes on a much heavier philosophical question: what if this life is all a dream?
As the opening track “Invocation” starts the record with a gentle music box-esque lull, it quickly connotes visions of chaos taking shape in a post-Big Bang timeline before posing the possibility that birth is merely the start of a grand adventure. Accompanied by a gorgeous string quartet arrangement, the title track “Beautiful Illusion” sets the stage for a contemplative journey just before “Quickening” places the listener into the gentle headspace of a soul entering the womb. Highlighted by trumpeter/saxophonist Nate Miller’s avant-garde inspired musings, “Borrowed Time” serves as a brutally honest reminder that the clock is ticking and the present moment is ultimately all we have. “Nightish” gives pause, allowing for an eerie look around at the creaks and cracks of the world over an 11/8 time signature.
The story continues with “Death Is A Moment/Quietus” taking the listener through the life-flashes-before-your-eyes moment of Death where time seems stretched infinitely, before the seamless “crossing-over” to the white light of “The Seer,” featuring the angelic vocals of Alissa Ann. The lush strings of “Lullaby for Sleepless Nights” again coaxes the listener to contemplate if this is all just a dream or not, before “Day One” presents the ordinary sounds of everyday life in a somehow mystical context. The album concludes with “Watching Yourself Go By,” which features philosphical reflections from Ram Dass and Swami A. Parthasarathy alongside lush orchestration. Depending on whether the listener was “zoomed-in or zoomed-out,” they are either left in a headspace of “what an amazing dream I just had” or even a returned- to-Source “what an amazing journey” haze by the time the album comes to a close.