Blow: Music For Winds And Piano
Albany, 2021
9/10
Listen to Blow: Music For Winds & Pianos
The composer and pianist Joseph Fennimore, who has been active since the ‘50s, returns with a 12th album on Albany Records, as he showcases his love for wind instruments while lending his own inimitable piano skills to nearly 80 minutes of very well thought out chamber sounds.
“Sonata For Clarinet And Piano” starts the listen with David Niethamer’s swift clarinet and Charles Schneider’s playful piano interacting with fluid, exciting gestures, and “Sextet For Woodwind Quintet And Piano” follows with the Chelsea Chamber Ensemble and Fennimore’s piano prowess alternating between calm moments of beauty and bouts of firm, triumphant musicianship.
Later on, “Romance For Flute, Clarinet And Piano” indeed brings a romantic spirit as Tim Malosh’s dreamy flute works well alongside Larry Guy’s precise clarinet and Fennimore’s warm keys, while “Duo For Oboe And Piano” embraces both serene moments as well as bouncy bursts of upbeat ideas from Eugene Box and Fennimore. “Second Sextet For Woodwind Quintet And Piano” exits the listen with a cinematic elegance that emits timeless melody as the many instruments blend together seamlessly.
All the recordings here are unedited concert performances between 1973 and 1989, and the quality of the recordings range from very good to exceptional. The delivery, of course, is flawless as Fennimore and company delight us with their keen attention to detail.
Travels well with: Dave Walther- Distance; Bruce Leto, Jr.- Singing Style