Clever Machines
New Focus, 2021
8/10
The Boston resident Aaron Jay Myers approaches chamber music with much creativity and diversity, and here he handles electronics and guitar as many exceptional players accompany him across very rhythmic and unpredictable compositions.
“Skins” starts the listen with Philipp Staudlin’s tenor saxophone acting unpredictably as Matt Sharrock’s marimba contributes in exciting, unconventional ways, and “Lichens II” follows with 8 chapters as Nicole Parks displays her violin with both intimate and abstract ideas present in the often quivering delivery.
Elsewhere, “Have-Not”brings Amy Advocat’s bass clarinet and Sharrock’s marimba into fascinating harmonic progressions, while “Night Of Pan” benefits from Sarah Brady’s flute, Sarah Bob’s toy piano, Amanda Romano Foreman’s harp and Sharrock’s vibraphone in a highly and uniquely rhythmic climate.
“Own Your Own Shadow” lands near the end, and displays Natalie Cristina Calma Gómez on violin and Kevin Price on bass clarinet across the adventurous and often cinematic atmosphere, and “Paraxysm” exits the listen with a busy execution of clarinet, guitar, piano and drums as prog-rock ideas enter a quirky and meticulous finish.
Myers has a background in punk, metal, flamenco, classical, jazz and much more, and he brings his rich arsenal of influences to this exciting chamber experience that you won’t regret spending time with.
Travels well with: SEAMUS- Music From SEAMUS, Vol. 30; Peter Gilbert- Burned Into The Orange