Alone in IZ World

I TRIED to keep this CD unopened in it's new Christmas paper (a gift to me from me for December 25th! 2008). But, on this freezing, wintery Sunday afternoon, I ripped the pretty paper off to give it a spin. I found myself totally (physically and mentally) relaxed and in peaceful awe. Smiles and giggles were summoned along the tracs. He's something else!

This is my second "IZ" CD. I have "Facing Future", and couldn't imagine anything could top it. I think this one does.

I'm still spellbound ...

IZ's voice and spirit moves swiftly into the human heart, fueling one's entire body and soul with his trademark: Pure, Sweet, Quiet LOVE.

I discovered "IZ" only after Tim Russert's death ... but, he's now in my head, and heart ... forever, and ever.

Iz is an untapped talent from Hawaii who unfortunately no longer exists here on this earth, but his music will live forever. His version of Somewhere over the Rainbow is the best version that I have ever heard.

This man has an abosolutly amazing voice, one that allows you to sit down, relax and drift into a world of thought.

This is a wonderful album. Since I moved to Hawaii, its the only singer and album that I listen to. He has the voice of an angel. Too bad he didn't live long enough to hear the praises of all the people that love his music.

As someone with a professional background in the neurosciences, particularly the neuroscience of emotion, I have struggled, without success, to explain to myself how such a simple remake of a simple Hollywood tune, which in its original form didn't have half the power of Iz's haunting version, could have such universal appeal and power. The hundreds of comments on this website are obvious testimony to this. Many people, myself included, consider it one of the most moving pieces of music they have ever heard. When pressed for details, people often describe a bittersweet sadness and joy, but even more than that, a reverence for the fragile state - life - that we are in, that our brief moment in the sun, full of so much promise, and also so much pain, lasts for such a short time, and then, it is gone. How Iz recast this Hollywood tune, (which originally was perhaps just a bit too saccharine to be emotionally powerful), in a minor chord to accomplish all that this tender song conveys is still a mystery to me. Iz clearly must have had some real genius, and he saw something in that tune, thru the lens of his talent, and he changed it, and us, for the better. What a gift to give to the rest of us in his far too short life. . . .Thank you Iz, where ever you are!