A Song For Silenced Voices
Navona, 2022
8/10
Listen to A Song For Silenced Voices
The New York native Michael Cohen brings a diverse set of compositions to our ears here, where strings, vocals, winds and keys are all present across chamber filled sounds that are often soothing but also carry a capacity for exploration.
“I Remember” opens the listen with dreamy harp from Lisa Wellbaum and Ralph Curry’s stirring cello, as Sandra Simon’s stunning soprano guides the calm climate, and “Prelude” follows with solo piano, where Anna Kislitsyna’s stunning finger acrobatics mesmerize us.
Halfway through, the soaring and meticulous strings of “String Quartet” brings a pair of violins, a viola and a cello that interact with warmth and allure, while “Just A Little Sky Away” places Samantha Britt’s stunning soprano amid Elenora Pertz’s agile piano.
The title track exits the listen, and mixes Norman Fischer’s quivering cello with Jeanne Fischer’s moody keys as both tension and beauty are present and appreciated.
A daring venture that’s sometimes bare, other times full, Cohen’s work is full of tonal manipulation and mystery, which only adds that much more allure to this charming body of work.
Travels well with: John Mitchell’s Quartet- Seasons; Trio Casals- Moto Finale