A New Day
Ennanga, 2024
8/10
The harpist Tasha Smith Godinez brings traditional ideas to her talents that express timbre and color via the electric and acoustic harp which occupies these 9 detailed tracks.
The lovely and enlightening “Passion Flower” starts the listen with the soft harp alongside Domenico Hueso’s emotive viola, and “Synergy” follows with a distinct dreaminess, where a gentle melody swirls with introspection.
Deeper into the program, “The Least Of These” uses the electric harp in exciting ways that emits much warmth via Christopher Garica’s lively percussion, while “Look Up” welcomes Leonard Patton’s agile singing that’s soulful and suits the radiant tone from the harp.
“After Here” and “Lament (for a world right-side up)” exit the listen. The former is full of twinkling beauty, and the latter mixes the harp and strings with much grace and adventurousness.
A truly original listen that embraces jazz, world, blues and avant-garde ideas, Godinez and company touch the soul and instill much emotion with these gripping selections.
Travels well with: Rasgueo- Eleven; Lina- Fado Camões