JoAnn Falletta

Walton: The Complete Facades

Naxos, 2022

8/10

Listen to Walton: The Complete Facades

The esteemed conductor JoAnn Falletta brings her inimitable vision to these works of William Walton, where Hila Plitmann, Kevin Deas, and Fred Child lend their voices and the Virginia Arts Festival Chamber Players are in attendance for this first ever recording of The Complete Facades,

The first 22 tracks belong to “An Entertainment”, where soft, flowing winds and vivid storytelling occasionally are met with swift, radiant moments and brief bouts of singing.

The middle tracks belong to the booming horns and Deas’ exciting and inviting baritone and Plittman’s smooth pipes in that often dreamy, mysterious landscape that is “A Further Entertainment”.

“Additional Numbers” exits the listen, and it balances tension with beauty, where marching band drumming and cinematic moments are met with strong interpretations of text and unpredictable, meticulous song craft.

A very unique body of work, these pieces were a collaboration between Walton at age 18 and the avant-garde poet, Edith Sitwell, and began Walton’s immense success. 100 years later, they are still as youthful in spirit, and are reworked with a careful attention to detail.

Travels well with: JoAnn Falletta- The Four Seasons; Peter Boyer- Balance Of Power

Rafael Zalvidar

Rumba

Effendi, 2022

8/10

Listen to Rumba

The Cuban pianist, composer, artistic director and educator Dr. Rafael Zaldivar brings plenty of rhythm to this globally enjoyable jazz affair, where a large cast of players accompany him for the cultured energy.

“Eleggua” starts the listen with much atmosphere, as Amado Dedeu Garcias Jr.’s expressive pipes enter alongside Zaldivar’s strategic synth, and “A Pray” follows with Miguel Zenon’s soulful alto sax complementing Amhed Mitchel’s flowing drum acrobatics.

Elsewhere, Terri-Lynn Carrington’s skilled drums and Rémi-Jean LeBlanc’s well timed bass emit much intimacy on “Two Words”, while Kurt Rosenwinkel’s superb guitar playing is the focus of the warm and dynamic “Dolor de Amar”.

Closer to the end, the busy brass of “Crying For Cuba” places Roberto Occhipinti on bass and Kirk MacDonald and Pat Labarbera on tenor sax for a very rich album highlight, and “Obbatalo” exits with group vocals amid Dayron Luis San Juan Maguercia’s very precise and rhythmic percussion.

A listen very much steeped in Afro-Cuban sensibilities, Zaldivar and company pen a very socially aware, musically diverse listen that’s receptive to Africanism nods and glowing in a worldly demeanor.

Travels well with: So Long Seven- Only Elephants Know Her Name; Chet Doxas- Rich In Symbolism II

Aimée Allen

Love & The Catalyst

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Love & The Catalyst

The vocalist and songwriter Aimée Allen brings us 12 well thought out and careful jazz tunes, where Toru Dodo, Francois Moutin, Kush Abadey, Tony Romano and Noah Allen complement her stunning pipes.

“Little Sunflower” starts the listen with playful bass lines from Moutin and warm keys that present a very charming wild vs calm dynamic as Allen’s soulful pipes guide the timeless jazz climate, and “Earth Is Waiting” follows with soft guitar from Romano, as a very pretty, poetic delivery ensues.

Trumpet makes an appearance from Noah Allen on the highly atmospheric and stirring Chick Corea medley “Crystal Silence/500 Miles High”, while “Love’s Crescendo” finds a very romantic place to reside with its soothing musicianship and Allen’s gorgeous pipes.

Deep on the back half, “Man Ripples Through Time” illustrates graceful keys from Dodo in the dreamy climate, and “World’s Collide” exits the listen with twinkling piano and Abadey’s brushed drums in a very eloquent and memorable finish.

A very diverse and familiar body of work, Allen’s voice is often sweet, can also ache and presents so much flow as she weaves in and out of compositions we won’t soon forget.

Travels well with: Leticia Walker- Lit From Within; Marilyn Scott- The Landscape

Michelle Ullestad

Sol/DVLM

Apollon, 2022

8/10

Listen to Sol

A collection of 2 EPs of Norway’s rising pop star Michelle Ullestad’s universally embraceable song craft, the 11 songs here illustrate much skill and memorableness with each exciting, energetic track.

After the brief, atmospheric strings of “Hei”, “Sol” gets right into buzzing and breathy indie-pop, where Ullestad’s expressive singing guides the dance floor ready climate that’s beat heavy.

In the middle, “Emillie” finds a more intimate place to reside, where playful hand clapping and pretty singing makes for a warm delivery, while “Maktesløs” recruits a very dreamy appeal that builds into a soaring and ultra melodic pop flavored anthem.

Closer to the end, “Uro” is quite bare, with cozy acoustic guitar and Ullestad’s poetic voice, and “Klarer du å finne meg” exits with lively drums and bright textures of pop that could be celebrated anywhere on the globe.

Ullestad’s debut was just in 2019, and she already sounds like a seasoned vet and could easily become a household name with her honest, infectious, and exciting formula.

Travels well with: Pogo Pops- Daylight; The Lust-O-Rama- Twenty-Six Screams

Ben Zucker's Fifth Season

Semiterritory

Ears & Eyes, 2022

8/10

Listen to Semiterritory

The Chicago artist Ben Zucker brings his vibraphone and songwriting skills to these very unconventional 5 tracks, where he’s accompanied by Mabel Kwan (piano), Andrew Scott Young (double bass) and Adam Shead (drums) for a listen that focuses much on flow and momentum.

“Question To Repair” opens the record with wild piano, atmospheric vibes and acrobatic drumming in the very adventurous free jazz landscape, and “Counterproductives” follows with an initially bare delivery that builds into stunning bass lines amid the playful vibes in a charming, nearly cinematic demeanor.

“Orbiting Betweens” occupies the middle spot, and it spends 13+ minutes mesmerizing us with its bright textures and low, rumbling moments of mystery, while “Ex-Topos” is quite heavy on mood, and possesses much ambience before shifting to a scrappy, jazz influenced album highlight. The final track, “Myriadic”, is both drenched in beauty and warmth, where all the musicians blend their respective strengths dynamically.

Yet another unclassifiable and energetic listen from Zucker and company, the presence of improvisation as real time compositions and the willingness to allow the players to explore in ways that touch on chamber and experimental nods helps make for a very memorable body of work.

Travels well with: James Gilmore- Decorating Time; Lauren Lee- Queen Of Cups

Fredrik Saroea With Bit20 Ensemble

Rona Diaries: The Chamber Versions

Apollon, 2021

8/10

Listen to Rona Diaries

An extremely well done live recording from Grieg Hall, Bergen, we’re treated to string heavy versions of Fredrik Saroea’s Rona Diaries, courtesy of the long running Norway legends, Bit20 Ensemble.

“I’m A Rock” opens the listen with quivering strings, as smooth singing guides the indie-classical ideas, and “Battered & Bruised” follows with strategically plucked strings that are met with much beauty amid the sublime string interaction.

Further on, the twinkling, cinematic moments of “A Matter Of Dying” complement the expressive vocals, while “Understatement Song” is a more intimate affair that recruits sweeping strings as the setting glides a bit quicker.

Closer to the end, “The Family You Got To Choose” emits a very meticulous energy of poetic song craft, and “Heaven Knows Those Songs Weren’t Heaven Sent” exits with a dreamy demeanor that’s quite absorbing.

The bonus tracks include the original Rona Diaries, released in 2021, where the shimmering indie-rock of “The End” won’t go unnoticed, nor will the guitar driven alt-rock of the album’s best, “Bulletproof Vest”. Deeper still, the scrappy “My Borough” sure does spotlight excellent percussion, and “Stray Cats” brings a softer yet exciting display of shiny pop moments.

An excellent outing that showcases so many dimensions to this versatile artist, fans of disco-punk, neo-classical and various ideas related indie-rock will appreciate these songs.

Travels well with: Melt Motif- A White Horse Will Take You Home; Vestamaran- Bungalow Rex

Thomas Bergsten

Thomas Bergsten’s Kosmos

Apollon, 2022

8/10

Listen to Thomas Bergsten’s Kosmos

The highly atypical multi-instrumentalist Thomas Bergsten brings his very spiritual and experimental version of jazz rock across these 4 unconventional tracks.

“Drive Pt1” starts the listen, and it brings blurry brass, cultured percussion and warm guitar to an avant-garde version of jazz, and “Drive Pt2” follows with a hypnotic ambience that flows with a hazy demeanor that uses flute strategically.

“ALBYT” leads the back half, and it’s a very meticulous and fascinating blend of space and tension that showcases exceptional guitar work and frisky drumming, and “Sun” continues this creativity with 18+ minutes of cozy and bare, soaring and cinematic, and even psyche/prog-influences into the curious formula.

Bergsten has experience playing in Gunerius & Verdensveven and The Harvey Steel Show, and he handles Guitar, cigar box harp, percussion, lap-steel and sound manipulation here. He takes help from Tore Ljøkelsøy (drums, percussion, Hardanger fiddle), Arnfinn Langesæter (saxophone, flute, percussion), Jakob Eri Myhre (trumpet, El-piano, effects, percussion), Simen Wie (bass, percussion), Øyvind Heilo (El-piano, percussion) and Bjørn Klakegg (guitar), and it makes for a very exciting venture into free jazz territory.

Travels well with: Datadyr- Woolgathering; Soft Ffog- Soft Ffog

Will Payne Harrison

Tioga Titan

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Tioga Titan

The Louisiana native and current Nashville resident Will Payne Harrison delivers his most emotional album yet, where love and loss are discussed amid pedal steel, fiddle, and warm vocal harmonies across these 10 heartfelt tracks.

“Pretty Little Dancer” starts the listen with playful fiddle, and a swift, rural melody alongside Harrison’s smooth pipes that will immediately get you on the dance floor, and “Goodbye, Sweetheart” follows with a tune of love gone awry that’s dripping in classic country ideas with much warmth.

“The Way” occupies the middle spot, and it’s a particularly intimate moment of poetic and bare song craft, while “Don’t Drink Well Whiskey In The Lonestar State” benefits from spirited guitar and thumping drums in the upbeat roots rocker.

Near to the end, “Broadway Lights”, the album’s best, welcomes gorgeous female vocals to complement the stirring climate, and “Uncle Boudreaux Went To Texas” exits with the aching pedal steel and Harrison’s eloquent singing that emits so much beauty as it builds into textured, dynamic finish.

A listen very much steeped in country ideas, Harrison’s craft is rich with enjoyable Americana, honky tonk and rootsy moments that you’ll want to hear again and again.

Travels well with: Veronica Stanton- Caught Up On A Feeling; Laura Benitez And The Heartache- California Centuries

Various Artists

One Step To Chicago

Rivermont, 2022

8/10

Listen to One Step To Chicago

The legendary producer George Avakian brought us the world’s first jazz record in the ‘40s, and in 1992 he assembled 3 generations of jazz luminaries to record the music of Frank Teschemacher and the Austin High Gang. The project was ultimately shelved, but is resurrected here and mastered from the original analog session tapes.

The first 6 tracks belong to Dick Hyman And His Frank Teschemacher Celebration Band, and showcases Kenny Davern and Dan Levinson’s bright clarinets and Peter Ecklund and Dick Sudhalter’s expressive cornets across the energetic “One Step To Heaven”, and the playful “I’ve Found A New Baby”. Hyman’s keys are especially glowing on the bouncy “China Boy”, and “Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble” finishes this portion with plenty of nostalgic appeal.

The next 7 tracks are courtesy of Kenny Davern And His Windy City Stompers, where the lively horns from Dan Barrett and Jon-Erik Kellso add much charm, and the swift keys and shuffling drums of “Nobody’s Sweetheart” isn’t too far behind. Deeper into this segment, “Indiana” is a more intimate affair, where calm winds and a soulful delivery make an indelible impression.

Hyman and Davern’s combined bands join forces for the festive and busy rocker “Farewell Blues”, the final track, where the dynamic and meticulous brass, winds, guitars and drums meet at a very adventurous intersection.

A long overdue listen that comes with a deluxe 80-page hardback book with dozens of previously unpublished session photos and extensive commentary by Dan Levinson, Hank O’Neal, Hal Smith, and Marty Grosz, One Step To Chicago sounds relevant in any decade since the beginning of jazz, and will resonate for many, many years to come.

Travels well with: Wayne Shorter- Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis; Charles Mingus- Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus

Black Oak Ensemble

Avant l’orage: French String Trios 1926-1939

Cedille, 2022

8/10

Listen to Avant l’orage: French String Trios 1926-1939

The Chicago based trio Black Oak Ensemble bring us works for violin, viola and cello across 2 discs of largely world premiere recordings that are fleshed out with meticulous, sometimes fierce string interaction.

The listen opens with 4 pieces by Henri Tomasi, where the strings weave in and out of firm versus soft moments of reflective, stirring song craft, and the work of Jen Cras follows with a very soothing, nearly meditative quality that’s quite absorbing, and can even get dreamy.

Disc 1 ends with the very poetic and heartfelt demeanor of Jean Francaix’s vision, where the pretty playing gets quite swift, even uplifting as it exits.

Disc 2 offers us the dancing strings of the tense songs of Robert Casadesus, which ebbs and flows with much grace, while Gustave Samazeuilh’s contributions are particularly intimate, and cap off the journey with very thoughtful, timeless musicianship.

A fantastic package that includes a 20 page album booklet by Elinor Olin, and was recorded by the Grammy winning producer James Ginsbrug and multiple Grammy winning engineer Bill Maylone, the ensemble sounds as if they’re playing right in front of you in their diverse, inimitable delivery.

Travels well with: Lincoln Trio- Trios From Contemporary Chicago; Third Coast Percussion- Perspectives

Mario Verandi

Eight Pieces For The Buchla 100 Series

Play Loud, 2021

8/10

Listen to Eight Pieces For The Buchla 100 Series

A very interesting concept by the artist Mario Verandi, the tracks here came to be by recording, editing and mixing several improvisations performed exclusively on the historic Buchla 100 series modular synthesizer at the Ernst Krenek Institut in Krems, Austria.

“Modul I” opens the listen with a warm, sci-fi presence that uses beeps and ambience strategically, and this creativity continues with the repetition of “Modul II”, which emits a hypnotic quality amid low buzzing.

“Modul IV” lands at the halfway point and emits an oddly meditative quality with its meticulous textures, while “Modul V”, the best track, glides a bit more firmly in a cinematic sort of way.

“Modul VII” and “Modul VIII” exit the listen, where the former is particularly eerie in a very fascinating way, and the latter fades out into otherworldly sounds of a playful, dynamic vision.

The art here emanates from the only Buchla 100 series available in Europe, and Verandi’s keen sense of space and time allow for a very atypical manipulation of sounds and tone, and it will be sure to resonate with fans of synth fueled exploration.

Travels well with: Mind & Machine, Vol. 4; Bill Whitley- Then Elephant Speaks

Dean Torrence & Friends

The Teammates: Twenty Years Of Making Music 1965-1985

Omnivore, 2022

9/10

Listen to The Teammates: Twenty Years Of Making Music 1965-1985

Dean Torrence has done just about everything an artist can do in the area of music, and here we’re treated to a collection that assembles his work across two decades and alongside many artists for songs that we’ve all heard before, rare and unreleased selections and songs that have never landed on CD or digital platforms until now.

The Legendary Masked Surfers start the listen with the harmonic vocals and warm organ of the jingly “Buy Our Album”, and “Summertime, Summertime” follows Our Gang’s flowing vocals and crisp drums making for an indeed summery, jangly good time.

In the middle, we get a couple selections from Torrence’s voice, including the doo-wop friendly “A Teenager In Love”, as well as the always classic “Get A Job”, which bounces and shakes with an uncontainable energy.

Making our way towards the end, “Jingle Bell Rock” has Mike Love along for the always cheery and upbeat holiday staple, while the swirling guitars and surf rock of “Fun, Fun, Fun” exits the listen with a tune that will always be adored.

Torrence was a pioneer of the surf rock sound that was popularized by The Beach Boys, and his collaborations with Mike Love, Jan Berry, Bruce Johnston, Harry Nilsson, and Leon Russell are all present alongside excellent liner notes on this positively upbeat and exciting project.

Travels well with: Brian Wilson & Van Dyke Parks- Orange Crate Art; Gaby Moreno & Van Dyke Parks- ¡Spangled!

Kirby Heard

Ripples In The Wake

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Ripples In The Wake

An album of all originals, the very thoughtful singer-songwriter Kirby Heard pens songs that are heartfelt and full of profound self-reflection across this wise and timeless affair.

“Angel Wings” starts the listen with Kaitlin Grady’s warm cello complementing Heard’s pretty guitar and expressive singing in the folk influenced climate, and “Grab The Lightning” follows with Bob Hight’s charming mandolin and FJ Ventre’s upright bass helping make for a poetic version of Americana.

Further along, “Sweet Days Of Summer” benefits from Jon Shain’s pretty acoustic guitar, as Heard’s lovely voice emits vivid storytelling, while “(That’s What Makes) A Bluegrass Song” is indeed in bluegrass territory thanks to Joseph Decosimo’s agile fiddle and Julie Elkins’ playful banjo.

Making our ways towards the end, “Better This Way” brings Shain’s acoustic and resonator guitar to a very intimate and eloquent album highlight, and “My Body, My Voice” exits with guitar, mandolin and harmony vocals in the protest folk song.

A very genuine listen that touches on the human experience, Heard and company make for a folk/bluegrass/Americana hybrid that is all substance and no flash.

Travels well with: Megan Bee- Cottonwood; Angela Easterling- Witness

The Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States

Music From SEAMUS, Vol. 31

New Focus, 2022

9/10

Listen to Music From SEAMUS, Vol. 31

SEAMUS continue their series of releasing their back catalog with new recordings, and this installment features 9 compositions of electronic music that’s highly creative and certainly atypical.

Jon Fielder’s “Think” starts the listen and soundtracks a descent into schizophrenia, where 9 minutes of pulsating electronics and wordless versus mumbed talking mesh with much allure, while “Heat Shield”, by Maggi Payne, uses a Moog synthesizer, a cricket sampling and a lot of strategic buzzing.

Entering the middle, Nina C. Young’s “Always And Forever” emits a mysterious, dreamy tone that embraces acoustic samples and timbre manipulation, while “Succubus” is full of a more forceful energy that includes nonsense vocal acrobatics and plenty of well planned noise that’s oddly sci-fi in the Brian Riordan piece.

Becky Brown’s “Dark Place” arrives late in the listen, and breeds ominous glitching amid the female voices throughout, and “Whale Song Standing”, by David Q. Nguyen, emulates the sounds of quick moving water, and that motion continues with a curious emotional depth.

An institution of music since 1984, SEAMUS has never fit into one category, and that’s just as evident as ever across these electro-acoustic gestures that will always be enthralling.

Travels well with: SEAMUS- Music From SEAMUS, Vol. 30; Peter Gilbert- Burned Into The Orange

Kenny Shore

Time Stands Still

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Time Stands Still

The North Carolina resident Kenny Shore navigates around a very intimate listen here, where failure, loss, hope and love are addressed via his soulful bluegrass formula that’s full of sincerity.

“Put Yourself In My Shoes” starts the listen with Joe Macphail’s well timed Hammond and Rob Ladd’s precise drumming in the soulful, warm Americana, and “Wander Around” follows with Jerry Brown’s fluid banjo and Joseph Terrell’s cozy pedal steel fueling the elegant and charming rural melodies.

In the middle, the festive and energetic “Down In Louisiana” showcases Danny Abrahms’ sax and clarinet prowess that tips its hat to New Orleans, while “Everything We Needed” features Andrew Marlin’s strategic mandolin and Isaac Derr’s high string guitar for the intimate album highlight.

Further yet, “Almost Like Heaven” benefits from Robert Sledge’s agile bass amid the folk friendly storytelling, and “The 24th Of June” exits the listen with just Shore handling banjo in a bare but impactful finish.

You might hear influences like Bob Dylan, Muscle Shoals, John Prine, and Jimmy Buffett, among others, present in Shore’s craft, and it makes for a very honest listen that’s never short on soul, emotion and stories that resonate with the human experience.

Travels well with: Ever More Nest- Out Here Now; Angela Easterling- Witness

Crystal Shawanda

Midnight Blues

True North, 2022

9/10

Listen to Midnight Blues

The exceptional artist Crystal Shawanda is armed with an incredible voice, and here she brings us 10 robust and flowing tracks of balladry, rockin’ moments and firm layers of dynamic and timeless song craft.

The powerful and rugged title track opens the listen with Shawanda’s sturdy pipes amid Dewayne Strobel’s thick guitar in the timeless blues formula, and “What Kind Of Man Is This” benefits from crisp drums and well timed keys, as Shawanda’s expressive singing is nothing short of stunning.

“Why Do I Love You” lands in the middle and showcases R&B nods amid soulful backing vocals, while “EVIL” makes great use of spirited harmonica and gritty melodies in the Willie Dixon original.

Closer to the end, “Hold Me” finds a very playful place to reside with its lively piano rockin’ fun, and “Take A Little Walk With The Moon” exits with a very cautious yet adventurous delivery of Shawanda’s fusion vision.

There’s 6 originals and 4 covers here, and Shawanda certainly makes the interpretations all her own as she continues to prove just why she’s one of the most exciting artists in blues today.

Travels well with: Amanda Monroe- Rosegold; Gretchen Peters- Dancing With The Beast

Electric Beauty

Electric Beauty

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Electric Beauty

A trio of veteran Minneapolis players consisting of Wayne Hasti (guitars, bass, vocals), Charlie Pine (vocals, piano, Hammond C3, ARP Omni2, ProSoloist) and Jim Tollefsrud (drums, percussion), as Electric Beauty they make a very timeless version of rock’n’roll that might remind you of David Bowie or Jeff Beck on occasion.

“Cindy’s Gone Away” opens the listen with a warm piano melody, as cautious rock enters a bit of jangly, retro feel amid the smooth singing, and “Modern Lovers” follows with crisp drums and flowing guitars, where a timeless pop-rock flavor surrounds the dreamy climate.

Further along, “Something For No One”, an instrumental, is full of cozy and creative textures, while “Lonely At The Top” brings at bit of intimacy to the folk-rock nods that are both gritty and pretty.

Deeper still, “Brown Summer”, one of the quickest tunes, showcases intricate bass line alongside a scrappy nostalgic rock appeal, and “Take Your Time” exits with an emotive and hazy demeanor that’s quite memorable.

Hasti, Pine and Tollefsrud have played in bands like The Now Explosion, Husker Du, NNB and The Ben Day Dots, and they bring a wealth of experience and talent to these well thought out tracks that are hopefully the first of many to come.

Travels well with: The Jayhawks- XOXO; Steve Almaas- Everywhere You’ve Been

Anthony Cheung

All Roads

New Focus, 2022

8/10

Listen to All Roads

The esteemed composer Anthony Cheung brings along an all star cast for these chamber works that are rich with variation and very focused with their harmonic gestures.

The title track starts the listen with atmospheric keys from Gilles Vonsattel, as the Escher Quartet present their haunting and mysterious strings across the chilling, cinematic expanse, and “Elective Memory” follows with Miranda Cuckson’s absorbing violin and Cheung’s skilled piano making for a very intimate, sometimes frantic and occasionally eerie demeanor.

On the back half, “Character Studies” presents just Cuckson’s manipulated violin across 2 very unpredictable and expressive movements, while “All Thorn, But Cousin To Your Rose” exits with Paulina Swierczek’s soprano and Jacob Greenberg’s piano in the operatic and energetic finish that relays many texts and plenty of mesmerizing key progressions.

An artist who explores a vast breadth of instrumental techniques, the compositions here are full of atypical layers, textual meaning and creative artistry that few could replicate.

Travels well with: Jennifer Grim- Through Broken Time; Mikel Kuehn- Entanglements

Veronica Stanton

Caught Up On A Feeling

Self-Released, 2022

10/10

Listen to Caught Up On A Feeling

The Nashville songstress Veronica Stanton impresses us with this debut album, where strings and keys enter her acoustic Americana formula that might remind you of names like Cat Power or Regina Spektor.

“I’m No Good” starts the listen with Stanton’s stunning and expressive voice alongside Connor Vance’s stirring strings and John Papageorgiou’s skilled drumming, and “Sorry If It Bothers You” follows with Wilson Harwood’s carefully strummed acoustic guitar accenting Stanton’s cozy singing in the breezy Americana.

Further on, “So Long” moves with a very intimate spirit of folk ideas that are delivered with much grace, while “Quick Fix” is textured both playfully and charmingly with well timed banjo, soulful backing vocals and Stanton’s very well thought out word play.

Close to the end, “All I Need To Know” has Stanton on acoustic guitar amid the dreamy dynamics that nearly sound like a lullaby, and “Worry” exits with more emphasis on drumming and inviting banjo to complement Stanton’s diverse voice.

An artist with a wealth of talent, Stanton has the voice, the songs and the stories that resonate so much timelessness and will likely make anyone a fan who is willing to listen.

Travels well with: Silver Lining- Go Out Nowhere; Grace Morrison- Daughter

Sirius Quartet

Playing On The Edge

Navona, 2019

8/10

Listen to Playing On The Edge

An ensemble consisting of Gregor Huebner (violin), Ron Lawrence (viola), Jeremy Harman (cello) and Fung Chern Hwei (violin), the Sirius Quartet offer us 5 pieces penned by contemporary composers with an unparalleled vision.

Ian Erickson’s “Oloo” starts the listen with brash strings in an ambient setting that takes us on a adventure through both serene and busy atmospheres, and “String Quartet No. 3” (Marga Richter) follows the elegant, classical ideas that build into tense, cinematic bouts of haunting and later on playful landscapes.

The back half of the listen brings us Brian Field’s “String Quartet No. 1”, which manipulates mood and atmosphere with precision, while “Sneak Into The Q-City” (Mari Tamaki) presents string acrobatics with dynamic interplay that twists and turns with musicianship that’s hard to emulate but easy to enjoy.

A genre defying listen that takes classical and chamber ideas into the fold, the 4 artists here turn in a fantastic, innovative and unpredictable journey that we’re lucky to be able to accompany them on.

Travels well with: Bill Whitley- Then Elephant Speaks; Lachlan Skipworth- Lachlan Skipworth