Sonix And Other Tonix
Navona, 2024
8/10
Listen to Sonix And Other Tonix
The always impressive composer Jan Järvlepp brings along Trio Casals, Benda Quartet, Nishikawa Ensemble and others for these 6 pieces that borrow from his most revered chamber and orchestral works.
The frisky and animated “Sonix” starts the listen with Anna Kislitsyna’s lively piano and Chelsea Meynig’s dreamy flute complementing the strings from Trio Casals, and “Trio No. 3” follows with rumbling keys, Ovidiu Marinescu’s playful cello and Alexandr Kislitsyn’s skilled violin cultivating a rich climate.
“Trio No. 5” arrives in the middle, and uses the Benda Quartet’s precise strings in heartfelt and intimate ways, while “Shinkansen” employs Kohei Nishikawa’s flute and shinobue, as well as Hideko Nara’s piano and Järvlepp’s cello for a textured, eclectic and rhythmic album highlight thanks to the Nishikawa Ensemble.
The lone solo piece is “Insect Dance”, where Kislitsyna’s keys do indeed dance with a keen sense of adventure, and “In Memoriam” exits with the Benda Quartet, where Jakub Černohorský and Petr Grabovský’s gripping violins emit so much beauty alongside Tomáš Svozil’s aching cello.
An effort that’s diverse both topically and musically, Järvlepp and company put a unique twist on chamber and orchestral sounds with a cinematic and daring spirit.
Travels well with: Trio Casals- A Grand Journey; Debra Kaye- Time Is The Sea We Swim In