Few Of A Kind
Adhyâropa, 2026
9/10
An all-star outfit consisting of Vienna Teng, Brandon Ridenour, Ben Russell, Yousif Sheronick and Andrew Gutauskas, as Few Of A Kind they integrate classical chamber music, improvisation, and folk storytelling into a new sound.
“Five’s Alone” opens the 4 songs with Teng’s mesmerizing piano alongside Russell’s meticulous violin and the bright wind and brass for a rich, animated start, and “Transcontinental, 1:30am” follows with a soft ambience of beauty and grass via the mature piano and Sheronick’s cozy percussion that complements Teng’s intimate voice.
The back half offers us “Alone” and “Two Steps From The Blues”. The former places Russell’s deep voice amid Ridenour’s rich trumpet, and the latter allows for Gutauskas’ strategic sax to shine alongside the authentic and powerful spirit.
Each member of Few Of A Kind has an excellent resume, and their combined talents make for a crossover, fusion experience that embraces humor, melancholy, improvising and polyrhythms.
Travels well with: Darol Anger- Diary Of A Fiddler #2: The Empty Nest; Wes Corbett- Drift