Where does the line get crossed between classical and jazz? Is the instrumentation? Amount of soloing? Presence or absence of syncopation or the 
blues? Here are four releases that try to answer this dilemma.
Michael Hersch’s thirteen part composition Images From a Closed Ward is performed by The Blair String Quartet, which consists of Christian Teal/v1, Cornelia Heard/v2, John Kochanowski/va and Felix Wang/c. The music is linked to a series of etchings and lithographs, Closed Ward and Locked Ward, with the topic being confinement in closed quarters. You don’t have to know all that to appreciate the modern classical sounds. At times there are jazz rhythms, but mostly this is sophisticated and mature work for 21st Century ears, and an impressive one on its own terms.
The Triad Improvisational Trio is made up of Carei Thomas/p-fl, Gary Schulte/v and Michelle Kinney/c along with various accessories such as voice, prayer bells, piano harps and voice on these original compositions. Thirteen Thomas originals set the framework for fairly free form improvisations, ranging from just around a minute to double digits. While there are quite frisky moments popping up, a fan of Ravel or Eastern European classical and folk will find a lot to identify with, while touches of the blues and jazz pop up on tunes like “Slavic Ponderance in the Brief Face of Dixie” and “Ghetto Pasorality.” A good mix of serious and playfulness.
Viola-ist Nils Bultmann performs a series of tunes for duets and solos and even throws in a Suite for Solo Cello which Parry Karp gets to display. There is an intriguing set of duets between Bultmann and fellow viola player hank Dutt for ten pairings, which mix folk fun, free classical and hints of jazz. A duet with Stephen Kent on didjeridu on four tunes creates some alluring sparks and sounds, while Bultmann’s solo viola on “Lucid” and the Cello Suite mix Bach-like sonorities with modern textures. Endearing.
Most penetrating of all ist the meeting of Samo Salamon/g, Roberto Dani/dr and Janez Podlesek/v and the Slovene Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra for a Baker’s Dozen Salamon originals that mix progressive rock, jazz and classical in a fascinating gumbo soup. Salamon goes electric, acoustic and even a bit metallic as the fourteen piece orchestra excitedly swirls around pieces such as “Hebe” and “Rhapsody.” Salamon’s solos are logical, fluid and tell a story, always making sense, while the rhythm team cooks like a power trio. Podlesek’s violin solos add a sort of King Crimson feel to the ensemble, making this a pleasant surprise for fans of multiple genres of sounds. Encore!
Innova Records