"The most spiritual human beings, assuming they are the most courageous, also experience by far the most painful tragedies; but it is precisely for this reason that they honor life, because it brings against them its most formidable weapons."
- Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher

When you choose to take the road less traveled, it's likely you will find your inner Spirit and then have it tested along the way. With the issue of his new CD, Miracles in Paradise, Marty Ward releases lyrics from the heart, music from his soul and reveals the voice he's found within his spirit.

While some might call him a "musical triple play" performer - sax player, singer, songwriter - the reality is much more than that. He is a man of many moods and colors, a composer of unerring sensitivity and a musician of unquestionable talent. With Miracles in Paradise, Ward has created a thoughtfully produced 12-track collection of songs that takes the listener along on an inspirational journey guided by music.

"To me, music is all about inspiration. It should connect the listener to his or her own heart and soul," Ward said. "Each song on this CD has a special meaning to me because it has been part of my journey in life."

It's taken nearly 20 years of experience for Ward to arrive at Miracles in Paradise - the threads he's woven to connect the cuts on the CD are made up of sincerity, synchronization and soulfulness. The adult-contemporary songs, many originals of Ward's, prominently feature Ward's sax, lyrics and vocals.

Listeners will find something old (a remastered version of That's What Living Is, from his debut EP), something new (Listen Closely, Good Times Bad Times, Fortune Within and Paradise, a breezy, calypso-influenced love song), something borrowed (covers of Sarah McLachlan's Angel, Van Morrison's Someone Like You, and the Cars' Drive) and even something blue (What Will Christmas Be Without You, a holiday song guaranteed to melt even the coldest heart).

Playing and recording original music has always appealed to Ward. And, apparently, it is appealing to the music world as well.

Loggins Promotion, a record promotion company out of Los Angeles which has worked on albums for Kenny Loggins, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men and many more, gave 10 songs on Ward's new CD top ratings, calling the tunes "potential standards."

"It's gratifying to realize the impact these songs have on such a wide audience. They are all very personal to me, but hopefully have meaning that can translate to the listeners' experience as well," Ward said.

Original composition Listen Closely, for example, came from an experience Ward had in San Diego. While shopping with a friend, Ward paused to listen to the adult contemporary music station playing throughout the store's overhead system. "Although the songs were wonderful, I noticed that the lyrics in the music, for the most part, didn't attempt to connect with the listener on an inspirational level. I have always wanted to create music that might connect, really connect with an audience this way," Ward said.

"I sat down and began to write Listen Closely, a song that would question and inspire the listener to listen closely to what's inside…to one's spirit, to one's soul and question how one's life is meant to be lived. I probably wrote 90 percent of the lyrics right there in that store," he relates.

From the very beginning of the new CD, the listener is captured by unique lyrics. The opening dialogue, a reading of A Time to Believe (author unknown) depicts the soul-searching theme of the album.

Ward's life is a combination of fate - and miracles. Ward launched his musical career with a scholarship at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy, not far from his family home in Boyne City, in northern Michigan. After graduation, he went on to advanced studies at Boston's Berklee College of Music, a music-only institution whose diverse student body has included Melissa Etheridge, Bruce Cockburn and recent Grammy sensation Diana Krall.

By his early twenties, he had experienced phenomenal regional success as one of the founding members of The Jelly Roll Blues Band. Arriving on the heels of the sedate early 1980s music scene, Jelly Roll shook things up. They racked up enthusiastic critical reviews and an unrelenting devotion from fans. The group would go on to become a popular opening act for musical legends like Ramsey Lewis and Earl Klugh, with Ward's electrifying stage presence singled out in reviews throughout the Midwest's newspapers and music magazines.

In late 1982, Ward moved to Chicago to join long-time friend (and fellow Berklee alum) Alan Hewitt's band, eighty-eight. With the addition of Ward, the group became a popular draw on the city's highly competitive club scene. Within a short time, eighty-eight beat out more than 2,000 acts nationwide to compete in the first season of TV's Star Search. The glamor and national exposure seemed to be the starting point for Ward and the group to become the next big thing - but then fate intervened.

On the morning of March 8, 1984, a car accident left Ward with a severe head injury. His parents rushed to Chicago not knowing what to expect, hoping for the best, preparing for the worst, as approximately 80 percent of people who sustain this type of head injury don't make a full recovery. Ward beat the odds. After hours of surgery, a long hospitalization, months of grueling rehabilitation, his 100 percent recovery was nothing short of miraculous.

While slowly getting back on his feet, Ward's career path detoured into the corporate world. It lead him to a new life in San Diego, California, where he accepted a tempting job offer from a rising corporation and would spend the next seven years as its Vice President in charge of new markets. Music took a back seat at this point in time, although he found opportunities to compose and perform whenever he could.

Deep down, Ward knew music was where his true spirit could be found. Ultimately, he decided to leave the corporate world and return to the life of a full-time musician. He remained in San Diego, releasing an acclaimed EP (1994's That's What Living Is, a featured selection on DMX Digital Music Radio) and even reunited with old band mate Hewitt on several projects, including music for two Jane Fonda "Walk to the Music" workout tapes.

As the 1990s drew to a close, Ward recognized that his own journey was leading him back to where he started - Michigan. Consequently, it took nearly 20 years of life's joys and experiences for Ward to arrive at Miracles in Paradise.