The Bow & The Brush
MSR, 2023
8/10
The exceptional violinist Dan Flanagan fleshes out 14 solo pieces inspired by painting and sculptures, where the works of Cindy Cox, Trevor Weston and Linda Marcel, plus many others, are present.
Nathaniel Stookey’s “Shadow Breaking” begins the listen with stirring string gestures, where Flanagan’s precise playing emits much emotion, and “Cadenza II”, by Jose Gonzalez Granero, follows with strong attention to mood, where the complicated playing is quite touching.
Halfway through, Evan Price’s “Blue Swan” finds itself in mesmerizing areas of melodic gestures, while “The Only Way Through Is Slow” spends 8 minutes enthralling us with strategic repetition and chilling minimalism that populates the Libby Larsen original.
Residing near the end, Peter Josheff’s “Same Old Sadness” flows with sublimely intimate playing that’s heart felt, and the original, “An Animated Street In Autumn”, exits with higher registers of intricate and moving violin prowess that few could replicate.
An extremely meticulous display of unaccompanied violin, each track is paired with a painting, and the in depth booklet completes a very accomplished body of work from one of today’s most luminous violin players.
Travels well with: Jenny Q Chai- Songs Of Love; Dave Flynn- Irish Minimalism