Myra Melford &Tanya Kalmanovitch: Heart Mountain

Melford and Kalmanovitch move from well-defined melodies to abstract linear forms, creating interesting little vignettes, brushed in strong color or shaded in deep, dark hues. There is also the use of space; they leave some of their explorations open, treading an unhurried path as they do on "Anthracite, where the build-up is slow and would have been portentous were it not for the logical sequence of sound. The two also find a resplendent nook in "Heart Mountain. Kalmanovitch plays the deep song swirling in melody as she shapes it with quick swaths and then lingers on the strings, savoring the melody. Melford lets notes ripple into the windows opened by Kalmanovitch.

The composed tune "Kailash never strays far from the melody. Kalmanovitch lets it hold sway, bringing in a timbral richness, with Melford content to pirouette below the violin. Along with "Kaligandhaki, "Kailash is one of the highlights of the album in the context of free exploration. In the latter song, Kalmanovitch bows short phrases, Melford lets fleet clutches loose. The tempo changes as the two circle each other and then clasp lines. The shifts are fleet and unpredictable, yet the whole is cohesive.

Melford and Kalmanovitch hold enough attention across the paths they forge to make this an appealing journey.

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