Old & New Poetry Vol. II
Navona, 2022
8/10
Listen to Old & New Poetry Vol. II
The esteemed composer Carl Vollrath interprets the text of William Blake and John Gracen Brown here, and he offers originals, too, as Aliana de la Guardia, Jonas Budris, Yoko Hagino and Rane Moore accompany him.
Blake’s “Songs Of Innocence” opens the listen with Guardia’s soaring and expressive mezzo vocals and Hagino’s agile piano in the sometimes rumbling, other times bare climate, and “Eighteen Pieces On Poetry” follows with very pretty singing alongside Moore’s atmospheric clarinet complementing the strategic keys.
Vollrath’s “It’s Over” lands on the back half, and showcases Guardia’s poetic pipes amid the subtle keys, and “Songs Of Experience” exits the listen with Budris’ tenor voice illuminating the sophisticated piano.
An excellent follow up to his 2021 record with the same title, the intimate landscape allows for many vocal ranges to be explored, and Vollrath’s personal connection with the text touches on nature and the human experience with a very eloquent appeal.
Travels well with: Carl Vollrath- Old & New Poetry; Ilja Hurník- Gratias