Heinrich von Kalnein: Blackbird

Too much of this interpretation is just that, a recreation of a specific style of music that works best when it breaks free. Respectful, yes, but the tracks that work best belt out in fortissimo virtuosity, including the lively rendition of “Because.” Others, like “Light Blue,” are delicious mood pieces. Once in a while, a track like "The Word" pops up and ulimtately proves to be richer in orchestration and free in movement, but many takes are like "Norwegian Wood," too straightforward for their own good. As a whole, however, the album lacks the energy of its better moments, even if von Kalnein’s sprightly fluting and generally smooth sax jamming have a certain appeal. There’s sustained down-tempo rhythms on “Glass Onion,” for example, but far too much redundancy in approach overall. There’s a talent to track here, and the album offers much to enjoy, but it’s trapped in material that prevents its creator from really cutting loose.

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