Reviewed: 2017-09-08
Genre: Classical
FCCs: none

Review: Chihara employs several approaches in this collection, each equally fascinating. Contemporary works for mixed ensembles, solo, abstract, and often witty. The Bagatelles are a series of short solo piano pieces which are meant to be played as a set, but are listed as individual tracks, and are a sort of homage to Bartok. The same is true of the String Trio tracks. The Ellington Fantasy can also be played as a set or individually. One can easily imagine the Duke composing for orchestra instead of a big jazz band.
Track Review (favorites denoted by *): 1/ String Trio (1) - strings start slow & swing uptempo like a train> cellos kick in slow> slow fade 2/String Trio (2) - slow strings slide along> spacey interlude & fade *3/ String Trio (3) - slow tempo violin solo slides into uptempo combo like horses running, then slows to slow tempo again> gorgeous melody> then swings uptempo again & stops (review continues inside jacket)

*4/ Bagatelle (1) - solo piano> lilting & lovely> slow tempo> ends on a trill 5/ Bagatelle (2) - piano solo intersperses heavy notes with runs> quick stop *6/ Bagatelle (3) - solo piano> quick runs at midtempo> quick stop 7/ Bagatelle (4) solo piano> stately & slow> stop 8/ Bagatelle (5) - solo piano> midtempo with heavy runs> quick stop 9/ Bagatelle (6) - solo piano> heavy & prancing> quick stop *10/ Bagatelle (7) - piano solo> light like a ballerina> quick stop 11/ Bagatelle (8) piano solo> slow & flowing> quick fade 12/ Bagatelle (9) - heavy notes ballerina> quick stop *13/ Bagatelle (10) - solo piano> midtempo> light & prancing> slows to stop *14/ Bagatelle (11) - midtempo light & airy> quick stop *15/ Bagatelle (12) - solo piano. fast runs like mice running across the floor> quick stop 16/ Bagatelle (13) - solo piano> slow & flowing like a soundtrack for a river> quick stop 17/ Bagatelle *(14) - solo piano> slow tempo swings to uptempo & back> fade 18/The Girl from Yerevan -guitar starts> slow & beautiful> strings join & slowly build to uptempo with gorgeous interplay & slow again> false stop> guitar stats> slow tempo with stings joining> melodies shift with tempo staying on the slow course> quick shift uptempo @ 9:48> full tilt trio jam> mellows & then swings uptempo> quick stop *19/ Ellington Fantasy (1) - violins start> midtempo> quick stop *20/ Ellington Fantasy (2) - violins start> slow tempo, beautiful & pastoral> fade *21/ Ellington Fantasy (3) - violin starts> uptempo & swinging> quick stop