Philip Glass: Aguas Da Amazonia
Rockwell, 2025
8/10
Listen to Philip Glass: Aguas Da Amazonia
The Third Coast Percussion quartet are celebrating their 20th anniversary with these new arrangements of Philip Glass’ Aguas da Amazonia, where the flutist Constance Volk is in attendance.
The soothing and synth fueled “Amazon River” opens with much attention to mood, and “Purus River” follows with a minimal approach, where dreamy percussive nods emit much mystery amid Volk’s elegant flute.
The middle track belongs to the stylish “Negro River”, which is rhythmic in a way you could dance to, while “Xingu River” carries a cinematic quality that balance sparseness with busier bouts of precise percussion.
“Paru River” and “Madeira River, Part II” exit the listen. The former draws us into its soft demeanor of beauty and grace, and the latter is strong on ambience via a lush presence that’s as fascinating as it is memorable.
An effort that truly does justice to the vision of Glass, Volk’s contributions are exceptional, as Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin and David Skidmore, i.e. Third Coast Percussion, again prove why they’re world renowned.
Travels well with: Third Coast Percussion- Between Breaths; Rachel Lee Priday/David Kaplan- Fluid Dynamics