Danielle Friedman: Weary Gold

Even the most casual listen to Weary Gold, Israeli born pianist Danielle Friedman's sophomore offering, might not convince said casual listener that this was only Friedman's second outing. It is too accomplished and sure. And a solo outing to boot.

There are host of synchronized moving parts in Friedman's sense of musical calisthenics, composition, and improvisation. Traits that come to the fore mightily and consequently on Weary Gold's emblematic opener "Sweet Home of Var." Once translated, the Swedish word var becomes "where" in English; and with that tidbit of knowledge in mind Friedman's wanderlust makes for quite the riveting listen. Even if taken to its less metaphoric French-English translation, Var is a region in western France where the wine flows at those fancy French rivera resorts. Either way no one loses here.

"Beautiful Land + Homesick" is a powerful evocation of a people still finding their way. Still looking for the peace both the land and the ancestors promised. The melody is melancholic, tinted with the dimming light of day. But Friedman, a storyteller at heart, lets the people's voice be heard in the more dramatic constructs that tie the piece together.

Composed as it was as a dialogue between the pianist and symbolist Israeli poet Leah Goldberg (1911-1970), Weary Gold holds many a thrilling exchange. Take "Pizmon La Yakinton" ("Hymn of the Hyacinth") as a prime example. Taking her freedoms with the old song's structure, Friedman whips it about, holding to the essence but never giving it full rein. It is a neat trick and one that again belies the notion that this is only Friedman's second disc. There is a lot of original thought at work here and most of the time it takes a few recorded go rounds to get to that level of thinking.

"Berlin August" finds Friedman in a jump/stride mode. Ranging about her keyboard to recreate the buzz and thrall of the city. It is a maestro moment. Familiar strains of something once heard and fondly recalled holds the attention on "Silhouette of the Mountains." Somber yet energetically mischievous, Friedman closes out with "New World," the perfect encapsulation of Weary Gold.