Matt Wessel Music

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PURE INSPIRATIONS
(1998)

Everlasting Love (Mom's Song)
A Carefree Journey
Thirteenth Emerald
Everlasting Love (Inst.)
Pure Inspirations
Soft Whispers
Matt's Prelude Mvt. I
Just Fooling Around
Dad's Song

TRACK LIST

CD INFO

recorded at st. paul the apostle church, gurnee, IL
recording engineer: larry pajakowski

released in october, 1998

BUY IT

this album can only be purchased through mail order.
simply send an e-mail to:

Matt Wessel
matt@mattwesselmusic.com

BEHIND THE COVER

Where do I even begin? “Pure Inspirations” was my first album. When I think back to the time I spent writing the music, planning the album, recording the music and, finally, putting it out to the public, all while I was still in high school, I get a lump of sorts in my throat. I can’t really explain it. I’m definitely more proud of this CD than any of the others. I know it doesn’t sound as good as the others. I make mistakes on almost every piece. And the melody lines are rather simplistic.

But there’s so much more to this album than what you actually hear or see. This album is my father. His memory, his spirit and his struggles went into every song on this album. Whether I wrote it when he was still alive or after he had passed, he still played a major part in every tune. “Dad’s Song” was the first song I ever wrote. I wrote it for him. “Thirteenth Emerald”, a fun, Irish tune is like none I’ve ever written since. I named it after him (his birthday was on May 13th – the emerald is May’s birthstone). “Everlasting Love” was sung by my mom. She wrote the words for him. “Pure Inspirations” was the first song I was able to write with a sense of “hope” and “new life” after the passing of my father.

And I think that essentially explains why I used the picture that I did. My mom helped me pick it out. I wanted a photo of me and my father, and she suggested this one. I hadn’t planned on using a photo of me at the age of five, but upon seeing the photo, I knew that none other photo could speak so much as to who my father was and the relationship he had with his children. (for more on that, please read my journal from NOVEMBER 23, 2003). No photo could have better conveyed who my father was.

The picture was taken at our family’s lake cottage in Wind Lake, WI. It’s about one hour from Gurnee and 45 minutes from Milwaukee. During the summer months, we would go up there almost every weekend to enjoy a simple life without computers, telephones or mail. Just family.

I’d also like to talk a little bit more about the album itself, not just the photo…

In addition to honoring the memory of my dad, the album also symbolized my transition from a 12-year piano student to a professional musician. That CD has led to me to where I am today. It helped lead me to the “Concert For Life’ – to raising money to help fight the disease that claimed my father. It helped lead me to a group of musicians, singers and friends that I’m blessed to still work with. It helped build my confidence as a musician, leading me to “put myself out there” when it came to playing at Mass, leading to what could actually be considered almost my entire identity while in college. It helped me mature. It helped me learn to be humble. It helped me to cope.

I may not play that many selections from “Pure Inspirations” when in concert, but that shouldn’t underscore its importance to me. No matter how successful I may become (here’s hoping!)… No matter how many albums I release… No matter what, that CD will forever be held at a higher level than the rest.

I hope you enjoyed these featured. I’ll leave them up for a while… Thanks for reading.