Dream Notes
Leo, 2019
9/10
Listen to Dream Notes
A professional musician since the age of 14, Pat Battstone brings a wealth of experience to this collaboration with Giorgia Santoro, a professor of the flute and esteemed musician who also handles bansuri, xiao, mouth harp and vocals on this articulate and adventurous effort.
“L’Albero dell Incantatore” starts the listen with soft flutes and twinkling keys on the elegant opener, and “The Forest Within” follows with vocals used as an instrument on the expressive and cautious delivery as Battstone provides Middle Eastern influences.
Near the middle, “Beyond The River Banks” recruits a louder approach with piano and soothing flute on the introspective tune that recruits jazz nods, and “Attraverso i Rami” continues the sophistication amid restrained interplay between the flute and piano that occasionally builds with tension.
Near the end, “Blue/Ocean Of Hearts” relies heavily on piano for the flowing, thoughtful, bluesy melodies, and “Song Of Daphne” ends the listen with vocal acrobatics, calculated keys and alto flute prowess from Santoro.
An extremely artistic listen that’s actually improvised from the art of Daniela Chionna, while it might be easy to call this free jazz, doing so would be doing this level of creativity a disservice, as the pair walk a path entirely their own with a massive amount of intrigue.
Travels well with: Deline Briscoe- Wawa; Miki Purnell- Midnight Bloom