Where do string sections fit in with modern music? Here are a couple of answers.
Break of Realty is a team of Patrick Laird/cel, Ivan Trvino/dr, Laura Metcalf/cel, Adrian Daurov/cel , Brook Speltz/cel, Meta Weiss/cel and Marnie Laird/p who mix and match modern classical with jazz and rock. They’ve previously covered material ranging from Bach to Metallica, but this time they stick to originals.
The mix of rock’s drive and classical long tones works majestically on “Helix” and the multi-climactic “Uprisings.” Driving drums feed the engine on “Light the Fuse” and gentle bows, strumming and pizzicatos make “Levy” a delight. Folkish Americana sounds from the Cumberland Gap take you home with “Nine Deep” and the Schubertian piano works well with the strings on “Six.” Lots of exciting moments here that bring out the best of both worlds.
Fabian Almazan brings his piano and electronic to the table with a rotating string section as well as a jazz rhythm team of Linda Oh/b and Henry Cole/dr for an atmospheric project that mixes melody, rhythm and rich harmonies. Fluid bowed lines along with the graceful voice of Camila Meza (who also brings her guitar along)create some wondrous moods on the flowing “Rhizome,” the dreamy “Espejos” and the climactic “Hacia el Aire.” Bartokian and jarring percussion gets a bit chaotic and the band gets a bit frisky on ”Jambo” which includes a guest appearance by Yosvany Terry. Meanwhile, some bluesy picking and bowing is appreciated on ”A New Child..” and a sepia performance of “Stormy Weather” casts long shadows. Lots yearning long tones and underlying rumblings make for an intriguing listen.