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Drori Mondlak and Karolina Strassmayer: Freescapes
by Hrayr Attarian
During twenty plus years of collaboration, drummer Drori Mondlak and saxophonist / flutist Karolina Strassmayer have perfected their creative chemistry. Their highly individual styles are, nevertheless, seamlessly complementary resulting in a unique sound that marks their superb releases. Their eighth, the haunting Freescapes, is an absorbing work with an undercurrent of subtle mysticism that showcases this synergy and splendid musicianship on nine interlinked tracks. Opening with Sing To Me Of..,," a duet between the co-leaders, and closing with ...
read moreDrori Mondlak: Point In Time
by Elliott Simon
Good drummers always seem to make all the right connections and Point In Time indicates that leader Drori Mondlak is, indeed, very well connected. He has brought together three marvelous instrumentalists and leaders in their own right--altoist/flutist Karolina Strassmayer, guitarist Cary DeNigris and bassist Steve LaSpina--for an intriguing quartet that strikes a perfect balance between the power in Strassmayer's horn and the elegance of DeNigris' chords, buoyed by the relaxed feel effected by his and LaSpina's obvious affinity.
read moreDrori Mondlak: Point In Time
by Lyn Horton
In musical groups, sometimes, the intention of the music is the seamless blending of the sounds of each instrument. In other instances, each band member's contribution both stands out and blends in simultaneously. With Point In Time, drummer Drori Mondlak has assembled a quartet and music, which gives the latter circumstance a chance to succeed.
Mondlak took great care in choosing instruments that have distinct tones, and exude equally bright and muted colors. As drummer, Mondlak becomes the constant that ...
read moreDrori Mondlak and Straight Circle: Wake-Up Call
by Phil DiPietro
Drori Mondlak brings a lot to the table as a drummer/leader. Born to a Polish father and English mother in Mexico City, his family soon moved to London and then New York, where he's remained. Along with this natural assimilation of cultures and rhythms came an infatuation with the drums when he switched over from piano as a teenager, leading to his current enthusiasms, not only for the kit's many colors, timbres and tunings, but its possiblilites for orchestrating melodies ...
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