Monterey Nights
One of John Tesh's early big-sellers,Monterey Nightsis a 1993 compilation that draws from five of the pianist's earliest recordings. It's a nice package, with ample variety in tempo, mood, and instrumentation to showcase Tesh's skill at crafting memorable pop-instrumental melodies. Two selections from his superbGarden Cityalbum, "The Waltz" (formerly "Waltz for Julie") and the title track, rank among his most attractive works, and an affecting piece such as "The Endless Road" (with a lovely cross-pollination of synthed-up female voices and muscular piano) demonstrates Tesh's ability to push the right emotional buttons with a minimum of melodrama. Some choices, such as the wearying title selection and its cheesy electronics, sound a bit dated, and the album's three original pieces are decent but unexceptional. Overall, this is an enjoyable overview of Tesh's early works.--Terry Wood