“Their performances give a richness and depth that is uniquely satisfying by virtue of this being all woodwind instruments instead of string instruments.”
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“A mix of arrangements, improvisations, and new commissions, the disc is as unpredictable as it is refreshing: an invigorating blend of diverse repertoire, top-notch musicianship, virtuosity, and surprisingly reflective turns.”
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"In all three works, the Veronas (violinists Jonathan Ong and Dorothy Ro, violins Abigail Rojansky, and cellist Jonathan Dormand) play with gusto. Even at the most frenetic moments, like the tortured climax of Star-Crossed Signals or the finale of the Gilbertson, the performances blaze with confidence and direction. And the telltale quiet spots — such as the pristine dovetailing in the Esmail or the songful lines in the Adolphe — showcase an ensemble with exceptional finesse and a thoroughgoing understanding of this engaging fare”
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“They did a wonderful job of presenting the music by explaining the intention behind it before starting the songs, which made it easier to follow the musical narratives across crescendos, highs and lows, frenzied excitement and bitter sorrow … The songs were so skillfully presented, diverse in type and engagingly played that I was gripped from beginning to end, something hard to do with only instrumentals.”
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“I love the energy of these performances by the New York string quintet, which presents its first new studio album in years. It was worth the wait...”
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“The music the group's making and the releases it's producing are all that's required to argue for the outfit's vitality and ongoing existence.”
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"Anyone who thinks that contemporary classical music is atonal, non-melodic and built mostly on atmosphere should listen to Kinetic. This 16-piece string orchestra from Houston makes a persuasive argument for the work of four composers on this mesmerizing debut release: Patrick Harlin; Paul Novak, Nicky Sohn and Daniel Temkin."
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“Collective Wisdom is the first album by eclectic string quintet Sybarite5 in five years, and the debut of the band’s new line-up. It’s chock full of strong sounds, from new pieces by composer-performers Jessica Mayer and Curtis Stewart to arrangements of selections by Komitas and Punch Brothers.”
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“The string quintet Sybarite5 offers its first studio album in five years, introducing three new members: violinist Suliman Tekalli, violist Caeli Smith and cellist Laura Andrade, who join original members double bassist Louis Levitt and violinist Sami Merdinian.”
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“Collective Wisdom’s opener, “Movement and Location”, should draw you in within seconds … Some chamber groups attempt to let their hair down and fall flat - what’s striking about this disc is how fearlessly, how naturally Sybarite5 own and inhabit what they play … A terrific collection, superbly played.”
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“Sybarite5 has assembled a fascinating collection of pieces that defy labeling. The group stylishly plays music the ranges from folk inflected tunes to instrumental works that embrace Latino and jazz roots. It does so with impeccable musicianship, technical prowess, and impassioned musicality.”
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"It Never Entered My Mind" is lush and beautiful but also has patches of cognitive dissonance, something that would slip perfectly within the emotionally artful futurism like the organic meets future de-constructionism of Gareth Edwards' 'The Creator' or Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner'."
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“Through the works of notable Black composers who have redefined musical landscapes, the album celebrates the centrality of the African American spiritual to the history of American music.”
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“I wanted to close the album by asking us to consider how we can move forward towards the future in a way in which we are changed for the better, that we're looking ahead towards a brighter day, a moment of freedom for all of us.”
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“As heard on her new album Ennanga, she plays music rooted in the traditions of Black America and other musical styles on the ancient stringed musical instrument.”
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“On her solo debut album Ennanga, harpist Ashley Jackson honours Brandee Younger, Alice Coltrane, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and William Grant Still with stellar performances of their works.”
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“I hadn’t foreseen the sense of serendipity that hit me once I was among the trees and I heard the Harlem Chamber Players join Ashley Jackson in what sounded like a collective Aeolian harp.”
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“Jackson finds resolve and courage, ending this beauty-filled CD with a sense of optimism.”
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"This music crackles with vitality, delivering an almost psychedelic experience that celebrates how trippy harmony can be"
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"Moving through passages that sound like an Orb remix of a light indie track, it's the kind of thing that fans of alternative music will love, but it isn't really until it reaches its instrumental second half that the magic happens."
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