OF POWER | San Francisco Classical Voice

“Inspired in part by the Black Lives Matter movement, Grammy-nominated violinist Curtis Stewart’s Of Power melds classical, electronica, and more than a bit of dub and hip-hop influence into a compellingly original statement about identity, personal challenges, and the state of America in 2021. Recorded during the pandemic, and released a few weeks ago to coincide with Juneteenth, the 17-track, 65-minute album includes original takes on melodies from Stevie Wonder, John Coltrane, the “Greek Blues,” Beethoven, Bach, Paganini, Eugène Ysaÿe, and more. Many of the compositions are barely recognizable in Stewart’s reworkings, but that’s all part of a package in which Stewart’s struggles and understanding of the world come through loud and clear.”