Strenuous Pleasures
New Focus, 2023
9/10
A collection of chamber pieces from the Pittsburgh composer and pianist/keyboardist Eric Moe, the 6 pieces that make up Strenuous Pleasures were penned from 2010-2020, and recruit counter)induction, Da Capo Chamber Players, Horszowski Trio, David Russell and Elliott Riley.
The title track opens the listen with the Da Capo Chamber Players working together with much creativity, where Curtis Macomber’s animated violin, Michael Lipsey’s unpredictable percussion and Patricia Spencer’s dreamy flute make for a rich and technical delivery.
Further along, Russell’s meticulous cello is spotlighted across the atmospheric and mysterious “Deep Ecology”, while “Spirit Mountain” brings the players back, as Nanci Belmont’s moody bassoon and Steve Beck’s well timed keys dance around the lush climate.
The last 2 tracks, “Demon Theory” and “Welcome To Phase Space”, don’t disappoint either. The former rumbles thanks to Moe’s lively piano alongside Riley’s diverse alto sax prowess, and the latter employs the Horszowski trio, and emits much intimacy via Jesse Mills’ stirring violin, Raman Ramakrishnan’s elegant cello and Rieko Aizawa’s tonally playful keys.
A listen that’s highly complicated but still easily accessible, Moe’s manipulation of electro-acoustic ideas embraces jazz, classical and innovative chamber nods that radiate much timelessness.
Travels well with: Doug Bielmeier- Music For Billionaires; Eric Nathan- Some Favored Nook