''Dream Libretto'' is an album by pianist
Marilyn Crispell
Marilyn Crispell (born March 30, 1947) is an American jazz pianist and composer. Scott Yanow described her as "a powerful player... who has her own way of using space... She is near the top of her field." Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrot ...
, violinist Tanya Kalmanovitch, and electronic musician
Richard Teitelbaum
Richard Lowe Teitelbaum (May 19, 1939 – April 9, 2020) was an American composer, keyboardist, and improvisor. A student of Allen Forte, Mel Powell, and Luigi Nono, he was known for his live electronic music and synthesizer performances. He was ...
. It was recorded at Nevessa Production in Woodstock, New York in 2018, and was released by
Leo Records
Leo Records is a British record company and label which releases jazz from Russian, American, and British musicians. It concentrates on free jazz.
Leo Records was founded in 1979 by Leo Feigin (also known under his broadcasting name Aleksei Le ...
that same year. The album features a five-part composition by Crispell titled "Memoria / For Pessa Malka," with all three players participating, followed by a seven-part set of improvised violin/piano duets titled "The River."
Reception
In a review for ''
DownBeat
' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...
'', Tamar Sella stated that, on the album, the "musicians mold a temporary sonic realm of the unconscious, and traverse through it with dedication and curiosity." Regarding "Memoria / For Pessa Malka," she wrote: "This is a sonically rich and textured reality... The narratives within the pieces are miraculous nonlinear threads of the unconscious, unfolding gently to offer inexplicable turns or to fade into darkness." Concerning "The River," Sella commented: "Kalmanovitch and Crispell respond to the richness of the mournful dreamspace unfolded before them with a playful calmness, exploring whispers, silences and stillness."
Writing for
All About Jazz
''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...
, Glenn Astarita referred to the album as "an endearing musical statement, where
rispelland her cohorts execute a requiem framed on improvisations and succinct melodies based on the pianist's close friends and family who have passed on."
Ken Waxman, in a review for The Whole Note, noted that the album "deals with loss and regeneration," and how its overall arc serves to "outline how grief can lead to musical artistry."
In a review for Jazz Weekly, George W. Harris wrote that the album is "strong on intuitive communication."
Track listing
Memoria / For Pessa Malka (Crispell)
# "I" – 6:41
# "II" – 5:27
# "III" – 3:22
# "IV" – 4:16
# "V" – 5:04
The River (Crispell/Kalmanovitch)
#
"Climb to a Whisper" – 2:49
# "Unburying the Silences" – 3:04
# "Dark Reflection" – 2:15
# "Where Water Moves" – 4:29
# "Stones Remain Still" – 4:11
# "Walked Through to Sleep" – 3:17
# "Stars Visible and Invisible" – 2:56
Personnel
* Marilyn Crispell
Marilyn Crispell (born March 30, 1947) is an American jazz pianist and composer. Scott Yanow described her as "a powerful player... who has her own way of using space... She is near the top of her field." Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrot ...
– piano
* Tanya Kalmanovitch – violin
* Richard Teitelbaum
Richard Lowe Teitelbaum (May 19, 1939 – April 9, 2020) was an American composer, keyboardist, and improvisor. A student of Allen Forte, Mel Powell, and Luigi Nono, he was known for his live electronic music and synthesizer performances. He was ...
– electronics (tracks 1 – 5)
References
{{Reflist
2018 albums
Marilyn Crispell albums
Richard Teitelbaum albums
Leo Records albums