Dave Kline: Shifting Borders

Violinist Dave Kline is pushing the contemporary voice of strings to new heights, while maintaining a sophisticated yet approachable city sound. Kline's original compositions are intricate and push the violin as a lead instrument in an ensemble setting, assertively bending the borders of undiscovered territory with great result. This idea led to his new album entitled Shifting Borders. While this refers to the musical twists, turns and combinations, it also captures Kline's personal journey across the globe, and encompasses his musical view of our world.

For Shifting Borders, Kline records with the musicians who have appeared with him live many times, this lends itself to an interconnected sound of reliable and comfortable interaction. Fernando Mojica on guitar, and Jon Laine on drums and percussion are the core of the group with special guests: Cheikh Ndoye from Senegal, West Africa on bass; French Canadian Lynn Veronneau eloquently tackling vocalese; Argentinian Emmanuel Trifilio on bandoneon; Dan Paul, from the U.S. on keyboards, clearly an international amalgamation of mastery. The album contains nine Kline originals, which cover a wide range of styles.

Opening with the energetic "Paris," Shifting Borders leads with a clear message that Kline is all about prodigious music, strong melodies, and infections rhythms. Set to a samba feel, "Paris" has a melody that is uplifting and fun. Kline's violin tone is warm and robust. His playing is strong and his melodic phrasing is full of passion. Mojica's guitar work is a real treat, he solos with purpose and his lines are clear and crisply articulated. Kline adds nice compositional touches, like interludes between solo's, which add interest and richness to the music. The group has a cohesive sound as a unit. Kline's solo is just like his compositions, full of development, strong melodies and much heart.

"Rockin' The Cape" has a beautiful arpeggiated chord progression by Mojica. The melody offers nice interaction between Kline and Mojica. Both Kline and Mojica turn in energetic and musical solos, Mojica's solo is especially fun, with pinch harmonics and a warm distorted sound. Kline again shows his compositional mastery with moving sections and a form that is interesting and always full of surprises. Laine's drum work is excellent. This song is a cross between John McLaughlin and The Pat Metheny Group, and that is a good 'thang' in itself!

This a fine recording of interesting compositions and is a further affirmation of Kline's evolution as a composer and player. With thrilling performances throughout, the project represents a complete portrait of the individual and group talents. There is a complete musical story on this recording that comes through the various forms and melodies that is dynamic and lyrical.