Reviews

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Precious Stones is a fascinating project by Al Jewer and Andy Mitran that features Hans Christian. The project began back in 2021 with the release of two singles “Emerald” and “Amethyst.” Four other singles were released, one each in 2022 (“Moonstone”), 2023 (“Topaz”), 2024 (“Sapphire”) and 2025 (“Aquamarine”). All three artists are multi-instrumentalists as well as composers, and they bring an amazing array of instruments as well as musical styles into all of their projects - including this one! The eleven tracks also feature Kraig McCreary on acoustic and electric guitars. Al Jewer plays silver flutes, Native American flutes, woodwind synthesizer, ocarinas, eBow guitar, singing bowl and percussion (and more!); Andy Mitran plays drums, percussion, synth bass, synth brass, guitar synth, marimba, harp and piano, plus a few others; and Hans Christian plays fretless bass and cellos. I think this quote explains the album well:

“We approached this project as sonic lapidaries, carefully shaping each track to reflect the inner light of an idea, a feeling, or a fleeting sense of beauty. Some pieces shimmer with serenity, others reveal unexpected depths. Each one, like its namesake, has its own texture, tone, and energy…. ‘Precious Stones’ is a journey through sound and soul - a celebration of the uniqueness that lives in both nature and human expression.”

Precious Stones begins with “Moonstone,” a piece that creates its own luminous glow. The four outstanding musicians created ethereal atmospheres that are set in motion by flowing, gentle rhythms and a lovely melody that weaves in and out. No one is the "star" on this piece and it flows seamlessly, soothing the mind and relaxing the spirit for a blissful seven minutes (almost!). “Amethyst” has more of a jazz vibe with a strong percussive beat as well as soulful flutes and guitars - magical! The artists have referred to “Sapphire” as “a layered exploration of a wakeful dream.” Christian’s cello takes the soulful lead on this one along with synths, flute, harp and Tibetan bowls. “Ruby” has Jewer on Native American flutes supported by synths, marimba, guitar and a variety of percussion instruments - I love this one! “Onyx” has a strong percussive rhythm behind what would be a very ambient setting otherwise. Slow, relaxed and mysterious, the various instruments seem to flow in and out of each other. “Opal” is a meditation on change as well as beauty that reveals itself in motion, not stillness. The music moves slowly and with grace with occasional flashes of the fire that make opals so intriguing. On “Topaz,” Andy performs the rhythmic bed and synth parts while Al and Hans carry on a dialog with wind synthesizer and cello. The piece has a Southwestern flavor and is relaxed and slightly melancholy with a strong pulse that keeps it moving forward - another favorite! “Aquamarine” is a shimmering, ambient piece that features Jewer on silver flutes and ocarinas; Mitran on marimba, piano, synths and orchestral brass; and Hans Christian on cello - a hypnotic combination that explores the sparkling gemstone's colorful connection to both the ocean and the sky. 

Precious Stones is excellent from the first note to the last! It is available from Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes, Bandcamp, and on streaming services including Spotify and Pandora. I give it an enthusiastic both thumbs up!

Kathy Parsons

MainlyPiano.com

https://mainlypiano.com/home

https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/al-jewer-and-andy-mitran-precious-stones

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Relaxing. Rejuvenating. Inspiring.

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That’s how I find the music of Andy Mitran. It’s the kind of music we can listen to all day and throughout the evening while working or relaxing.

Andy and collaborator Al Jewer are proud to announce their newest album, Precious Stones, and this one does not disappoint.

Andy says the album is crafted to offer a moment of stillness, beauty, and wonder. I found it to be powerful with songs that flow from one to another, yet each has a unique sound. Listen for yourself. I know you will enjoy the entire package.

My friend, Andy, has an extensive background in music. He is an award-winning musician, composer, and producer of ambient, New Age, and poetic songcraft with decades of experience.

His music is played across multiple formats, including Spotify, music radio stations, commercials, documentary films, network and cable television, satellite radio, and other streaming services. I’m proud and pleased when I hear one of his tunes pop up on the Xfinity music station.

If you look at Andy’s other albums, you’ll find countless songs that were also created with his friend, Al Jewer. Together, they make incredible sounds that will soothe your soul.

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©Midwest Mary

www.midwestmary.com

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Artist: Al Jewer and Andy Mitran feat. Hans Christian

Title: Precious Stones

Genre: New Age Instrumental-World

Release Date: July 30, 2025

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Al Jewer, Andy Mitran, and Hans Christian have released several tracks from their upcoming album, Precious Stones. It served as a good primer for the full release, with its focus on exactly what the title suggests.

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As a boy, I was captivated by gems, rocks, and minerals. Listening to Precious Stones, I found myself transported back to those fond memories. Each track aroused the image and colors of a specific gem, creating a personal connection that made me feel more connected and involved in the music.

“Moonstone” begins with a multitude of instruments merging to create an atmospheric and textured soundscape. The synth, flute, cello, and interesting-sounding bass contribute to the track's originality. Additionally, there is an acoustic and an electric guitar. Many more additions help make the track unique and complete. It’s a fine way to start the album. The track shines with a quiet inner light just like the Moonstone.

“Amethyst” is one of my favorite gemstones. The fretless bass is used this time, and it has a unique sound. The woodwind synth adds a nice layer, complementing the various percussive elements, synth guitars, and cymbals, which lend a world sound to the mix. I found it very relaxing, like a cool drink on a hot summer day (much like we are experiencing lately in the Northeast).

With “Sapphire,” you will hear the flute cloud, Tibetan bowls, synth bass, concert harp, and cello. The cello sounds like it's longing for something (which it typically is); however, it remains an asset and is beautiful. The bass has a resonating sound to it, and as all the elements come together, it has a cool blue feel, just like the gem the song is dedicated to. The way the synth sound is used is brilliant.

The first thought of “Ruby” is red. Red is generally a color associated with strong emotions, such as anger. This music is on the opposite end of that spectrum. Native American flutes, Synths, marimba, djembes, frame drum, talking drum, synth brass, udu, hand percussion, and acoustic guitar all meld to make a gorgeous layer of atmosphere and color. The eye-catching color of the gemstone is evident here.

“Emerald” has a green and serene color, with depth and brilliance all its own. Several types of cellos are used in combination with various instruments, including flutes, electric pianos, synthesizer bass, and marimbas, among others. I am thinking of the lush greens of Ireland while listening. The track, as I would expect, flows nicely, and you find solace and relaxation in it.

“Onyx” is a word that sounds strong. Instruments like triple-chamber ocarinas and Chilean bomb add to the uniqueness and lovely atmosphere. The percussive elements are strong here, as the other instruments sound brighter and cleaner, supporting them. It felt like I was walking somewhere, like the remote mountains in the Himalayas, searching for a mystical place. This was one of my favorites.

The “Diamond” has always been the most sought-after and costly addition to one's gem collection. Here, the hand percussion is subtly added, complementing the electric guitar's emphasis. Some lovely piano notes float around as the flutes add their ambiance. Synth brass and bass are added components and layers. The marimba and djembe are also essential parts of the puzzle. It all shines brilliantly, like a diamond with its many facets —the music mirrors that.

“Obsidian” features the Native American flute, singing bowls, and an e-bow guitar. The colors of the gem are deep and black as night, and the music has a mysterious quality hovering around it, while the flute echoes and resonates, drawing you in with its hypnotic effect.

“Opal” evokes the thought of fire and a multitude of colors, reaching out to you and engaging your imagination as you gaze at its beauty. It is one of the more unique gems due to its luminescent, multihued colors. The flute cloud, koto, singing bowls, and the silver flute cloud are a feature. The synth layers add texture and depth. Listening gives you the incentive to relax and reflect. The track time is 7:38, allowing the listener not only to relax but also to use the piece for a meditation session.

The “Topaz” can have many different colors; however, the first that comes to mind is brown. Indian percussion, including the udu, frame drum, and drum synths, as well as cello and pizzicato cello, are among the interesting tools used to create this auditory journey. The cello took the lead on this track, with the other parts coming in elegantly and effectively. The woodwind synths are elemental as well, creating those smooth and soft layers that allow you to join in consciously with purpose.

“Aquamarine” closes out this fascinating album of musical art and sound. The name represents the colors, as you look at this gemstone, the thought of the ocean and sky comes to mind immediately. The piano, cello, and flute establish a firm footing here, as the concept of full relaxation and meditation still holds precedence in this track and all the others. The beauty of each gemstone is the primary focus, and the music elevates that perception to a higher level.  I especially appreciate the triple-chamber ocarinas making their appearance in this last track.

I am genuinely amazed by the diverse range of instruments used in each track on Precious Stones. And because of that, they all stand out with their own unique identity, just like the gems that are being represented.

This was a transformative listening experience, enriched by the subject matter and my familiarity with it. It moved me differently, shifting my focus between the brilliance and color of the gems and how the music beautifully complemented the essence of each gem, inducing profound feelings. The thoughts and feelings that arose were like a third element, enriching the entire experience and leaving me inspired and enlightened.

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Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Founder

July 18, 2025

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Precious Stones By

Al Jewer & Andy Mitran

Written by

Steve Sheppard

Today I was in for a cornucopia of multi instrumental delight with the release of the brand new, and much awaited new album from Al Jewer & Andy Mitran, entitled Precious Stones, many of the tracks were of course familiar to me over the preceding months and years before as singles, but it was absolutely glorious to see them all in one place now in 2025, I have longed for a truly good crystal, precious stones album, to bring the entire concept up to date, and I am pleased to say this release nails it.

The classy multi instrumental pastiche of utter quality contains no less than 11 sublime pieces, that look at various gems that we have loved and adored for a lifetime, the duo are joined by bass and cello supremo Hans Christian on many of the compositions, a delight that adds a multitude of layers to each construction he performs on.

The opening foray is entitled Moonstone ft Hans Christian, a sumptuous layered manifestation of a mysterious feminine energy can be found here, the fretless bass offers so much depth, whilst the keyboards, the lightness and compassion offsets an almost Eastern motif with the slight percussive beat and a light crescendo.  

Many of your favourite offerings are here, the delicate Sapphire ft Hans Christian, with its sensitive chimes, strings and hovering intensity, whilst tracks like Emerald ft Hans Christian, one of my personal favourite stones, gifts each and every listener a soft piano and keyboard reverie with a deepening cello, adding an in depth nuance to the overall narrative of the creation.

In the second half of the album we find the sparkling reverie of Diamond, this is a crafted manifestation, raising the rhythm slightly, but holding its glistening musical body in an instrumental cohesion, one supported by a fluent guitar performance by Kraig McCreary, and an energetic but melodic piano of Andy Mitran.

There literally is something for everyone here on this incredible album, tracks like the deeply meditative Obsidian, or the soothing refrains of another favourite of mine in Opal, there all here to bring a true cathartic experience for the listener.

The last two tracks both features the skill set of Hans Christian, the first of which is our penultimate offering entitled Topaz, this track includes the unusual, but delightful use of Al Jewer on woodwind synthesizers, whilst our last and concluding manifestation entitled Aquamarine, is a vast reservoir of tone and timbre, one that brings our journey to an end in the most luxurious of ways.

This is one of those albums that has been completely worth the wait, each and every composition has been carefully crafted to bring the listener a quality multi instrumental experience, a blissful encounter of great joy, and one must report that so gladly that Precious Stones by Al Jewer & Andy Mitran is an intelligent and well researched release, that finally brings our search for classy new age music with regards to gem stones to an end, this release is the one that makes our voyage through Crystals via music complete, and created in such a beautiful way as well