“A Grand Memoir” by Darlene Koldenhoven
Album Review by New Age CDs and New Age Notes Radio Staff
Darlene Koldenhoven is a Grammy®-winning, Billboard charting, vocalist, pianist, composer, songwriter, arranger, credentialed voice teacher, certified sonic therapist and author who has had quite an accomplished, interesting, and exciting life. Her new 10-track solo piano album to be released August 7, 2026, “A Grand Memoir” (TimeArt®), is the companion to her memoir book “Put Your Dress Down and Sing” (Sibylline Press), also releasing August 7, 2026.
Darlene is known worldwide as a featured soprano soloist singing “Aria” in the PBS TV Special and Video, “Yanni, Live at the Acropolis” seen by over 1.5 billion television viewers and millions more now on YouTube, and most notably, as the tambourine-waving choir nun with Whoopi Goldberg in both “Sister Act” films. Off camera she was also the production vocal coach and vocal contractor, music director, and rehearsal pianist during their choreography rehearsals. If you haven’t seen the Yanni video, you must, as it’s phenomenal and you will get a real sense of Darlene’s astounding musical talent.
The music on “A Grand Memoir” is calming, relaxing, elegant, and sophisticated, with a kind of neo-classical/classical crossover New Age style. What I like best about the whole album is that it’s emotionally evocative, sensitively and masterfully played, and completely relatable. The music was “channeled” to Darlene during that just awakening stage between dreaming and consciousness when she was writing her memoir. She recorded the music live in her living room on a century-old Golden Era Steinway Grand Piano model L that was left in her care by some friends whose mother was the original owner and a national concert pianist.
The album begins with the gentle “Love and Devotion.” Here we have a nice melody along with balanced use of upper and lower piano registers. This is very engaging and a good opening to the rest of the album.
Following is the scintillating “Impressions.” Equally engaging with a sort of “waterfall” feel, this is also wonderful. One thing that strikes you is Darlene’s confident command of the keyboard. Very lovely.
While we can’t address every track here, some of my other favorites and notable observations: “Wright’s Romanza” was inspired by Darlene’s visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House in Los Angeles. She used to visit his Chicago-area houses when she was a child and has vivid memories of doing so. He called his style of architecture for that house, “California Romanza.” And, thus, she named her improvised, free-flowing song after him.
A Jacaranda is a large, beautiful tree with gorgeous purple/blue flowers. If you saw one, you’d certainly remember it. “Jacaranda Joy” perfectly captures this magnificence. This is truly captivating and one to listen to again and again.
I’ve not personally been to Vienna, but my understanding is that it’s an enchanting place, particularly in the winter around Christmastime. “Winter in Vienna” rather entices you to travel there. Graceful and enchanting on its own, here’s another to really enjoy.
This lovely nostalgic album, for piano lovers everywhere, closes out with the playful and free flowing “Flying With Kites.” Delightfully melodic, memorable, and wonderfully composed and played, this piece conjures up so many pleasant childhood memories that we certainly don’t want it to end. Love it all.
Get it here: https://www.darlenekoldenhoven.com/agm
Book cover
Get Darlene’s memoir book here: https://www.darlenekoldenhoven.com/book
