Twelve Blocks
First Hand, 2026
9/10
This first album from Michael Stephen Brown as composer brings us tributes and character portraits that point at lost loves, lifelong mentors, atypical performers and couples we might know.
“Four Lakes For Children” starts with Brown’s rich and emotive keys populating the 4 chapters, and “Pas De Trois” follows with Paul Neubauer’s stirring viola and Anne-Marie McDermott’s complicated keys illuminating Susanna Phillips’ striking voice.
Further along, “Relationship” recruits Osmo Vänskä’s adventurous clarinet and Erin Keefe’s gripping violin for the animated climate, while the title track enlists Jereome Lowenthal and Ursual Oppen’s firm, sometimes haunting keys and narration that radiates mystery, ambience and unpredictability.
The final 2 tracks are Brown solo. “Breakup Etude for the Right Hand Alone” rumbles in a lower register and offers dizzying playing, and “Pour Angeline” finishes with a dreamy and introspective atmosphere via the love letter to Brown’s fiancee.
A diverse, technical and often intimate body of work, Brown’s careful chamber vision makes an immediate impression across very thoughtful subject matter.
Travels well with: Miró Quartet- Hearth; New York Polyphony- Sky Of My Heart