Sandman’s Castle
Navona, 2022
9/10
The inimitable composer Vincent Ho brings us both solo and duo pieces here, where the musicians Vicky Chow, Susanne Ruberg-Gordon, Ben Reimer, Beth Root Sandvoss, and Evelyn Glennie flesh out his diverse and exciting vision.
“Nostalgia” opens the listen with Glennie’s glowing vibraphone in the intimate and dreamy landscape, and “Three Preludes” follows with Sandvoss’ stirring cello and Reimer’s well timed drumming illuminating the orchestral demeanor.
At the halfway point, the animated piano of Chow makes for a very playful climate in the mesmerizing “Supervillain Études”, while the title track allows for Glennie’s tam-tam prowess to shine in the bare, ambient gestures that are quite mysterious.
The final track, the rowdy “Kickin’ It”, places Ruberg-Gordon on piano alongside Reimer’s furious drumming for the wild and very memorable exit.
A listen that explores the beauty of nature and is never short on classical influences, there’s also chamber and rock nods populating these very exploratory and well thought out compositions.
Travels well with: Duo Sequenza- Yes, It’s Still A Thing!; The Lowell Chamber Orchestra- Miniature Symphonies