Café Danube
Naxos, 2024
8/10
The U.K. quintet, ZRI, bring plenty of history with international orchestras, improvisation, and cross-cultural collaborations, as these 15 tracks flow with a global appeal.
“Rondo all Turca” starts the listen with swift strings thanks to Max Baillie’s detailed violin in the flowing climate, and it isn’t long until “Gnossienne no. 1” trims the pace back with sublime beauty thanks to soft and mysterious delivery.
Further along, “Liebesleid” tugs on the heartstrings via the intimate mood that benefits much from Matthew Sharp’s lovely cello, while “Pizzicato Polka” is an upbeat album highlight that recruits Iris Pissaride’s agile santouri.
Landing closer to the end, the busy “Kleftikos Sirto” comes with a symphonic flavor of rich string interaction, and “Impromptu in Gb Major, op. 90/3” exits with Jon Banks’ hazy accordion adding much to the layers of prettiness.
An effort that highlights the music of the river Danube, ZRI explore sound worlds, people, flows and ebbs of rivers and humans, where they treat us to travelling music and musicians from the Black Forest to the Black Sea.
Travels well with: Pól Brennan- The Irish Revolution; Tri Nguyen- Duos-Alone