Strings come in various sizes and shapes on these three albums that mix strings with swing.
Violinist Jerry Goodman earned a well deserved reputation with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Here, he creates music that seems made for a movie soundtrack. Some dramatic themes and directions make up pieces such as “ Enter Sandman” with misty mountain hoping and echoes on the title track. Festive Middle Eastern sounds are conjured on “The Laws of Nature” while dreamlike eerie moods creep along on “Dream Weaver” with Nektar. A read of The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly” gives the piece a swinging vibe, while his teaming with keyboardist Rick Wakeman makes “Random Acts of Science” a rich conversation. Can’t wait to see the movie!
Babel Fragments is dominated by the violinists Hubert Chen and Jean Cook. Along with Pat Muchmore, who provides cello, trombone, vocals and electronics, they mix and match with various reeds and sounds in a collection of settings. The first eleven tracts are string trios that are mixes of long tones, slashing vows and pizzicato’d Bartok moods. A handful of tracks include Kamala Sankaram’s soprano sax along with strings for some frenetic freewheeling. A Decalogue of tracks include unaccompanied scordatura cello for some personal interpretations, and the album closes with some duets of electronics and a hodge podge of guests. Some sticks to the wall, some falls back into the pasta cooker.
Cellist Maya Beiser covers the waterfront with various adaptations of string music. She takes JS Bach’s “Air” and adds a scratchy hip hop effect to it, while creating long eerie drones to Lou Reed’s desultory “Heroin.” Electrical effects are on “All Vows” and cacophonies abound on “Hellhound” while she broods with melancholy on “O Virtus Saphentae.” Not the most cheerful of albums, more of a covering of the room with grey wallpaper