SmoothJazz.com Review
by SandyShore
He calls his music NiemSongs and NiemStrumentals. He’s been composing and recording them since 1993. IN YOUR DREAMS is the seventh release from Las Vegas-based multi-instrumentalist/vocalist John Niems, and it continues his strong tradition of creating compelling pop instrumentals and acoustic rock songs with bite and powerful messages. With musical influences that range from Dixieland and Swing to The Beatles, Bread, and Chicago, John’s tunes are memorable and always great listening. IN YOUR DREAMS is no exception. The ten “NiemStrumentals” and two vocals range from the gentle “In Your Dreams” to his high-energy vocal tribute to Smokey Robinson, “It’s All About Smokey.” All the instruments on this release are played by either John or his friend Steve Parrish, but the full, dynamic sound would lead you to believe there are a lot more players involved. Delicate piano interludes, searing electric guitar riffs, and soaring, cinematic melodies on this collection of original compositions from John will take you on a rich, powerful and satisfying musical journey. The tracks that really stand out for me are “Sundown Sunday” (two versions, one of them an extended version), the lyrical “Shoreline Secrets,” the energetic, Latin-tinged “No Cover Charge,” and the equally stunning “Resolution Begins,” which reminds me a lot of Yanni’s work. John Niems’ IN YOUR DREAMS is top-notch stuff, worthy of inclusion in anyone’s music collection! ~SCOTT O'BRIEN
