I'm coming to like Wayne Gratz more and more as time goes by. This album has occupied the top position on my iPod for almost a month now, and it refuses to cloy or bore. There is something solid and charming about the melodies and Gratz's performance that keeps them remarkably free, one play after another.The is some similarity between Wayne Gratz and Paul Cardall. Much of it is the evenness of composition and performance that makes it difficult to single out one cut as a favorite. But I find myself most interested in pieces like the title song (A Gift From the Sea), Steps in the Sand, and ships which bring in other instruments. The instrumental contrast builds the depth of the work and makes it even more enjoyable.If you like New Age acoustic instrumental work (or soft jazz, or fusion, or whatever you call it) listen here. Gratz has a dozen or so albums behind him, some out of print and some still available. Most are still available from the musician, and all are worth hunting down.