The six performers that comprise Eighth Blackbird play with such breathtaking virtuosity that it’s very tempting to sit back and simply gasp in admiration. This is particularly the case when, as here, the program is so interesting and intelligently designed. All of the music on this disc exploits a vast range of timbral effects while taking in a very wide stylistic range from one composer to the next. Perhaps the most inventive pieces are Jennifer Higdon’s Zaka, Steven Mackey’s three-movement Indigenous Instruments, and David M. Gordon’s Friction Systems. All three mix traditional tonal with more obviously avant-garde elements, but in a way that’s consistently ear-catching and approachable.
Dennis DeSantis’ Strange Imaginary Remix not surprisingly includes some pop music rhythmic elements, and it brings the program to a satisfying conclusion. My only reservations concern the two pieces by Gordon Fitzell: Violence and Evanescence. These two musical “soundscapes” strike me as heavy on timbral effects and light on musical substance. You may find yourself enjoying them the first time through but questioning their staying-power. Time will tell, of course, but one thing’s certain: there are few groups out there that put together contemporary music programs as rewarding as Eighth Blackbird, and this one receives stunning attention from Cedille’s engineers. In sum, this is an adventure, but in the best sense of the term. [1/3/2007]
