I am a couple of weeks behind the release of this Rush For Solo Piano by David Sanderson, but it is still worth drawing attention to this fabulous release that arrived recently and in time to coincide with last weekend’s RUSHfest Scotland event, which looked to have been a fantastic success.
Rush For Solo Piano – David Sanderson
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Paul Hutchings
Arranged, produced, engineered, and recorded by David, this five-track album features four Rush classics and a medley delivered in a unique, thrillingly different way. Album art by the legendary Hugh Syme merely enhances the overall project, with all proceeds going towards the Funding Neuro charity.
RUSHfest Scotland has produced six albums since Neil Peart’s untimely death in 2020. The Songs for Neil Vol 1-6 have contributed to over £150,000 that the event has raised since its inception, and although Rush For Solo Piano is a limited vinyl run, there is still an option for purchase via Bandcamp.
The album opens with a stirring rendition of A Farewell To Kings. Although the song is instantly recognisable, the arrangement is fantastic and provides a totally different approach to the song.
Xanadu follows, and it is again a glorious performance. A track full of atmospheric tension, David has managed to capture the overall feel and drama in his version, which spans close to ten minutes. Musically, this is astonishingly good, and it hits hard in the emotional feels. The jazzed-up conclusion works magnificently, and the whole song is a creative genius that fits into multiple settings.
For high stakes, the dramatic Prelude in Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres is hard to beat in the Rush catalogue. David takes a really good shot at this, the intensity of the opening bars switching to the more mellow parts of the song.
He can capture the vibe of what is probably the progressive masterpiece in the band’s catalogue, run close by the obvious 2112, Fountain Of Lamneth and The Necromancer, with a style all his own. Making a classic track both interesting and with an unusual spin is what really catches the ear here.
And classics do not get much bigger than Closer To The Heart. The Rush anthem that stirs the blood, this is a faithful reprise that once more grabs the emotions. It is going to take some strength not to weep tears of joy in the forthcoming months.
And it leads to The Big Medley, an 11-minute montage of Rush tracks from their early years. Listening to it on the RUSHfest Scotland play through prior to release was great fun as those online vied with each other to hit the virtual buzzer first when identifying the likes of Lakeside Park, Fly By Night and Bastille Day.
With mere weeks to go before those first dates in LA, taking time to spend with this album seems a pure and cleansing way to prepare. The ride is about to start, and Rush For Solo Piano is a beautiful way to get the motor running.
Rush For Solo Piano by David Sanderson is out now and is available via Bandcamp.
MetalTalk’s Rush At 50 series explores the emotional impact of Rush’s 2026 return to the stage, beginning in Los Angeles on 7 June. Through conversations with devotees, tribute performers, organisers and writers, Paul Hutchings captures how Rush’s music, evolution and legacy continue to inspire deep loyalty, connection and admiration across the global fan community.
Funding Neuro is a UK charity that funds and supports innovative research into neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease, glioblastoma, and DIPG, with a focus on accelerating new treatments and improving patient outcomes.
