Avi Darash: Impermanence

By DAN MCCLENAGHAN
April 3, 2016
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Pianist Avi Darash, home-based now in the Netherlands, broods beautifully on "The Day After," the third tune on his CD Impermanence. His trio mates—bassist Avri Borochov and drummer Ofri Nehemya—offer an intricate yet subtle accompaniment, on a sound that brings the Brad Mehldau Trio to mind, with its floating momentum, cerebral atmosphere and subtle melodic development.

Impermanence features the young pianist in trio, solo, trio-with-strings mode. Ambitious? Yes, but Darash is inspired and adept. "Happiness," the disc's opener has a glistening insistence of trio equilibrium until the leader takes a prickly solo of sorts; actually, its sounds like everybody is soloing—three different paths taken with a like-minded simpatico.

"Lullaby For Bendavid," an energetic lulling, left and right hands rolling out entangled counter melodies. "Nothingness" features the added dimension of Borchov's bowed bass, adding an richly ruminative, reverential atmosphere in the ballad sections of a gorgeously constructed, multiple tempo tune.

Then there's the strings. Darash brings in a string quartet on "Power to the Peaceful," bolstering the classical mood that pervades a good deal of his music here. And the title tune that closes the disc sounds as if it could serve as a pared down version of something for a symphony orchestra's serious consideration.

Track Listing: Happiness; Lullaby For Benedavid; The Day After; Nothingness; Power To The Peaceful; A Three Day's Journey; The Shepherd Of Dreams; Spiritones; Morenica; Mahumudra; Impermanence.

Personnel: Avi Darash: piano, composer/arranger; Avri Borchov: bass; Ofri Nehemya; Arlia de Ruiter: 1st violin (5, 11); Sarah Koch: 2nd violin (5, 11); Norman Jansen: viola (5, 11); Jascha Albracht: cello (5, 11).

Title: Impermanence | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced