Chicago Clarinet Classics
Cedille, 2023
9/10
Listen to Chicago Clarinet Classics
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra clarinetist John Bruce Yeh creates a very accomplished listen here, where intimate pieces by esteemed Windy City composers- past and present- make up the involved tracks.
Alexander Tcherepnin’s “Sonata In One Movement For Clarinet And Piano” starts the listen with Yeh’s flowing clarinet and Patrick Godon’s fluid keys making for a swift and exciting opener, and “Phoenix Rising For Solo Clarinet” follows with Yeh’s stirring presence that’s emotive, poetic, and, later on, quite playful in the Stacy Garrop piece.
In the middle, “Leo Sowerby’s” “Sonata For Clarinet And Piano, H 240a” brings Godon back for the lower registers of the piano and mysterious clarinet that spread out across 4 diverse pieces that are pretty, vulnerable and even upbeat in Yeh’s very capable hands.
Close the end, Teresa Reilly’s clarinet joins Yeh for Reilly’s “The Forgiveness Train For Two Clarinets”, which makes for a mesmerizing and melodic album highlight, and Robert Muczynski’s “Time Pieces For Clarinet And Piano, Op. 43” exits with a charming cinematic quality that, over 4 chapters, births a very precise interaction.
Yeh conceived, researched and pieced together this album during the pandemic, and it includes world premiere recordings packed with his complete mastery over the clarinet and some excellent help from Godon and Reilly.
Travels well with: Rachel Barton Pine- Violin Concertos By Black Composers Through The Centuries; Aznavoorian Duo- Gems From Armenia