Veteran composer Ian Rae returns with his seventeenth studio album, Just an Old Guy, a touching collection of eight instrumental pieces that shimmer with nostalgia, wisdom, and gentle humor. Released as an intimate reflection of Rae’s lifelong relationship with music, this intimate album comforts as a sonic memoir told through piano keys, soft strings, and moments of revelation. After amassing more than 100 million views for his lighthearted performances on TikTok and Instagram, Rae proves here that behind the humor lies an artist of immense sensitivity and emotional intelligence.
The opening track, “Just an Old Guy,” sets the tone beautifully. Inspired by the timeless warmth of “Mr. Bojangles,” it captures the image of an elderly pianist whose melodies bring smiles to strangers. The piece glows with soothing piano lines and a gentle undercurrent of immersive harmonies that ripple like late-afternoon sunlight.
Then comes “Then It Carries On,” a piece originally composed for a musical decades ago, its melody still glowing with enduring grace. “A Night on Mount Koya” draws from Rae’s real-life night in a Buddhist temple in Japan, evoking the tranquility of sacred mountains with cinematic piano notes reminiscent of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.
“The Autism Leaves” comes as a poignant piece, written after Rae’s recent realization of being autistic at 78. The song has a more gentle, delicate, and vulnerable prancing of the piano while the immersive depth stays steadfast and alert, grounding the song like a pillar of strength. It’s like a heartfelt dialogue between self-discovery and acceptance.
Other highlights like “When the Music Goes Round in Your Head” and “Beginning” showcase Rae’s playful jazz instincts and romantic tenderness, while “Abandoned” closes the album with emotional resonance and humor.
Just an Old Guy is a modest understatement. Ian Rae delivers an album that feels like a lifetime distilled into melody. Listen to it on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan