Dreamspace
Sono Luminus, 2024
9/10
The educator and pianist Michael Mizrahi encourages us to keep dreaming with these creative tracks that use strategically placed microphones to do justice to the 8 composers whose work is present.
“Fall Down Five Times Get Up Six”, by Andrea Mazzariello, opens the listen with the warm and flowing keys emitting much beauty thanks to Mizrahi’s careful progressions, and David Werfelmann’s “Suite á I’antique” follows with 5 chapters of dreamy, absorbing ideas that radiate a rare intimacy. Mark Dancigere’s “For Nightfall” then arrives, and it carries dense versus light approach of purposeful contrast.
Joanne Metcalf’s “The Understanding” arrives in the middle, and uses both mesmerizing, bright tones as well as lower registers for the cinematic delivery, while “The Red Devil Dreams Of Numbers”, an Evan Williams tune, is a swift, mysterious and sometimes haunting delivery of grace and poeticism.
The last 3 tracks don’t disappoint either, where Yiheng Yvonne Wu’s “Threaded Spaces” flirts with ominous nods amid the careful progressions, and Chiayu Hsu’s “Games” is a stunning tune of firm and meticulous key manipulation that few others could parallel. Alan Shockley’s “study (nightsong)” then exits with a bare but impactful 3 minutes of engaging minimalism.
All the pieces here are world premiere recordings, and the sonic innovation with microphone placement and Mizrahi’s flawless playing makes for a multi-perspective and unique listening experience that you can’t not admire.
Travels well with: Bruce Levingston- Without Words; James Adler- Reflections