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Stefano Leonardi / Stefano Pastor / Fridolin Blumer / Heinz Geisser: Conversations about Thomas Chapin
BySix of the improvisations are indeed conversations-meditations with and about Chapin. The quartet, Leonardi, violinist Stefano Pastor, bassist Fridolin Blumer and percussionist Heinz Geisser reference themes, fragments and instantaneous gestures of Chapin compositions and playing style. All are clearly influenced by Chapin's charismatic musical personality. They don't try to rearrange, cover or imitate him but acknowledge what Chapin meant to transmit through his emotional artistry.
The opening, title piece and the last one, "The Melody Remains," reflect little of Chapin's compositions. But the rest of the compositions, except a cover of "Amina" from Anima, (Knitting Factory, 1992), and Live! On Tour (Akasha, 1999) acknowledge various elements in Chapin art. The need to surrender to the creative force of the music, bigger than any ego, the collective manner of music making, creativity as a spiritual manifestation with music and melody as expressions of profound love. None of the quartet members are gifted with the magnetic force of Chapin's presence, but that does not matter. All perform with joy, passion, imagination and an elegance that would have thrilled Chapin, as his widow assures in the liner notes. The emotional "Anima," with its playful interplay and the slow exploration of its melodic core, is masterful in its humble beauty and impressive testimony on music as a healing force.
Highly recommended.
Track Listing
Conversations about Thomas Chapin; Let the Creative Force Take Over; The Way Everything Works; Transcendental Journey (a Clean Slate Every Night); Music Exists Because We Love It; Anima; The Melody Remains.
Personnel
Stefano Leonardi: flutes; Stefano Pastor: violin; Fridolin Blumer: bass; Heinz Geisser: percussion.
Album information
Title: Conversations About Thomas Chapin | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Leo Records
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