Agave: In Her Hands
Acis, 2023
8/10
The solo debut from the stunning soprano Michele Kennedy, the songs shift in time and subject matter, where plenty of contrast is present and appreciated.
Margaret Bonds’ “Hold On” opens the listen with Kennedy’s flowing vocals amid the soft strings of the harmonic landscape, and “Prelude & Fugue in E Minor, Op. 16, No. 3”, by Clara Wieck Schumann, follows with a stirring intimacy via the precise string interaction.
Deeper still, “Canzona Seconda à 4” emits glorious and warm songwriting from Claudia Francesca Rusca that’s uplifting, while “To My Little Son”, a Florence Beatrice Price original, showcases Kennedy’s diverse range and powerful pipes.
Nearing the end, Ethel Kathleen Sutton’s “Pastorale” offers a dreamy and reflective mood of beauty, and “She’s Got the Whole World in Her Hands” exits with the classic tune delivered in a very gentle mood that suits Kennedy’s touching vocals.
Kennedy’s execution is flawless, and her ability to handle Baroque and Haitian ideas with meticulousness in the purposeful tension creates a very inviting atmosphere.
Travels well with: Shawn Crouch- Chaos Theory; Rose Wollman- Loop: Ligeti’s Inspiration & Legacy