Here’s an ambitious three disc set produced by Grammy winning producer Ryan Truesdall, bringing together a series of string quartets performed by the likes of violinists Sara Caswel- Joyce Hammann- Lady Jess, violists Lois Martin-Orlando Wells, and Cellists Jody Redhage-Ferber-Hoah Hoffeld mixed and matched throughout, sometimes with guests. The compositions are quite varied, ranging from the pens of modern and jazz composers including John Clayton, Rufus Reid, Bob Brookmeyer, Jim McNeely, Asuka Kakitani, Joseph Borsellino III and Alan Ferber, to name a few.
Once in awhile, you get a cameo guest, with John Hollenbeck adding drums, marimba and piano to his own “Grey Cottage”, and Jay Anderson contributing a rich bass to Ryan Truesdell’s “Heart of Gold (For Jody”. Anat Cohen features her clarinet in Truesdell’s thoughtful modern piece “Suite for Clarinet and String Quartet” and Sara Caswell gets the spotlight on the lovely “Violet Soul” and swooning “Murmaration and Adagio”. Rufus Reid’s three movement “String Quartet #1” is filled with lyrical textures, and the strings dance on “Where Can You Be” from Nathan Parker Smith. The thing that is most impressive about the entire project is the realization that modern classical and jazz can create sounds of beauty, something overlooked in this day of cacophonous experimentation.