1. One More Misty Morning (4:18)  --24 sec. 550 kb. .WAV file  2. Tomorrow's Pastures (3:01)  3. Beyond My Dreams (4:57) --23 sec. 520 kb. .WAV file  4. Dearest Child (5:43)  5. South Wind (5:49)  6. Just Above the Clouds (6:23)  7. China (3:29)  8. Whispers (5:12)  9. All in All (2:49)  10. Earth Astronauts (4:30)  11. The Crystal Voyage (6:33)

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REVIEWS 

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Maybe a tree doesn't make a sound when it falls, but Boca Raton duo Forest sure do. Featuring Jim Kovalcik on flute and Vinny Monaco on synthesizer and vocals, Forest just released The 8th Vortex, a collection of light new age type material that blends jazz, country, acoustic and folk into one sound. The group formed in 1992, and is, by every definition of the word, low key.

The new CD is mostly instrumental, and contains 11 songs. It's available on the South Winds Music label, at Liberties Books & Music in Boca and at Borders Books & Music in both Broward and Palm Beach counties.

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CD by FOREST, Jim Kovalcik (Flute) and Vinny Monaco (Synthesizer, Vocals) South Winds Music

What a pleasant surprise when we played this one!!! Up beat melodies that are easy to listen to. Original music that is a blend of New Age, mixed with lots of great jazz. Forest has been playing at book store cafes throughout Palm Beach and Broward Counties, but I'm certain it won't be long before we hear Forest on our local jazz radio station.

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Local CD of the week: The 8th Vortex by Forest (South Winds Music). Mellow and fascinating folk-jazz from a really laid-back Palm Beach County duo. How laid-back? Jim Kovalcik and Vinny Monaco, both in their 40s, formed Forest in 1992 but didn't play their first gig (at Liberties Books in Boca Raton) until 1995.

Two months ago, they finally released this mostly instrumental 11-song album, which features Kovalcik on flute and Monaco on synthesizer and the few vocal tracks.

Call the music line to hear "One More Misty Morning" (my favorite), call me if you want the album and/or see them Saturday, April 12, at Borders in Boca...

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It is rare to meet a musician that lives his music, much less two musicians. See for yourself as they take you on a musical journey of self-discovery and into the 8th Vortex , their new CD.

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From..

"New Times"

February 12-18, 1998 Volume 1, Number 15

 
 

A little less than a year ago, I was nose-deep in Kerouac's Some of the Dharma at the Borders Books in Coral Springs when I heard someone playing a flute. A few minutes later, I also heard a synthesizer, and, as if hypnotized, I exited the "Literature" section and moved toward the music. Tucked neatly between the "U.S. History" and "Art" sections, I found the New-Age duo Forest playing before a handful of adult onlookers.

The duo was formed in 1992 by Vinny Monaco (synthesizer, vocals) and Jim Kovalcik (flute), two fortysomethings with a passion for music. "We basically got together because we love to play," says Kovalcik. "We just wanted to make original music."

Forest has since performed at many local bookstores. Upcoming gigs include Liberties Cafe in Boca Raton Thursday, February 12, and the Boca Raton museum of Art Wednesday, February 18. With regard to how the duo sounds, imagine a much jazzier Yanni or John Tesh.

Forest released its first CD, The 8th Vortex, late last year, and for NewAgers it's a must-have. The mostly instrumental, eleven-song compilation features some of the most beautifully orchestrated and relaxing compositions to come along in a while.

"We like the term 'Newer Age' instead," Kovalcik says of the duo's sound. "Or 'The Next Age."'

My personal favorite is track number four, "Dearest Child." Written and sung by Monaco, the song is a heartstringpulling tune inspired by his daughter's recent move from the area. He sings of "the people that are left behind."

If you work in a busy office where a Discman and headphones are allowed, this is the music you want. Vortex will put you into the same kind of trance I experienced that day in the bookstore.

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