Thoughts And Prayers
Albany, 2023
8/10
Listen to Thoughts And Prayers
A listen that takes into account Larry Bell’s personal, social, national, and international awareness, the esteemed composer brings in help on vocals and strings for these songs that preserve the memory of those lost, and the events that we should never forget occurred, despite how painful they may have been.
“Third Elegy: In Memory Of K.E.O” starts the listen with a solo piano piece from Bell, where his cautious and warm key patterns emit much beauty, and “Halcyon Song” follows with Jennifer Richard Webb’s stunning mezzo-soprano and Sam Ou’s elegant cello helping make for a stirring climate.
Further along, “Nine Variations We Shall Overcome” places Deborah Nemko on piano for the highly melodic and meticulous delivery, while “Prayers Book I” pays tribute to Travon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and many others who lost their lives due to very unjust circumstances, as Bell’s lone piano alternates between ominous rumbling, dense moments and swift mysteriousness.
Near the end, “Domenica a Filicudi” showcases Webb’s flawless pipes amid David Wallace’s intimate viola and Bell’s mature keys for the album’s best, and “A Postcard From Ukraine” exits the listen with Bell’s single piano that’s full of tuneful, rich playing.
Bell has an impressive resume that includes teaching at the Juilliard School, the Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory, and the Berklee College of Music, and this exceptional reflection of the often difficult times we live in is quite articulate.
Travels well with: Larry Thomas Bell- Twenty-Four Preludes And Fugues; Allen Shaw- Fantasia & Other Pieces