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Johnny Gandelsman: Hemingway

By Hrayr Attarian
April 13, 2021
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Documentarian Ken Burns is an accomplished storyteller and on Hemingway he tackles the life of another masterful author, Ernest Hemingway. For the soundtrack of this intriguing, three-part film a group of genre-bending modern virtuosos perform nine mesmerizing originals.

Released on award winning violinist

Johnny Gandelsman

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Gandelsman's In A Circle label the album features, in addition to Gandeslman, several notable artists. The Latin flavored "Un Gitanito En La Habana,'' composed by Venezeulan keyboardist

Gonzalo Grau

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Gonzalo Grau, mixes Afro-Cuban motifs with hints of jazz and western classical influences. Gandelsman's melancholic lyrical violin floats over percussionist

Mathias Kunzli

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Mathias Kunzli's beats and intricate strings refrains. Flutist

Jeremy de Jesus

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeremy de Jesus on alto contributes a breezy romanticism while guitarist

Gyan Riley

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Gyan Riley concludes the track with flamencoesque bravado.

Riley plays his own "El Torito'' unaccompanied. His resonant chords create a shimmering mix of Spanish folk elements with baroque suggestions. His deft handling of the acoustic guitar is thrilling as he overlaps contrasting phrases with elegance. Another solost is pianist

David Cieri

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">David Cieri, who penned and interprets the wistful nocturne "Leaves Fall Early." Expectant silent moments punctuate the gentle cascade of notes. Cieri's lilting lines weave an eerie and hypnotic lullaby. The effect is simultaneously intimate and foreboding.

Riley opens the collectively written "La Plenitud" with acerbic and serene phrases over cellist

Michael Nicolas

cello

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Nicolas and bassist

Shanir Blumenkranz

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Shanir Blumenkranz's bowed vamps. K��nzli adorns the mellifluous tune with shakers, cymbals and other sound effects. Blumenkranz and Riley engage in a dialogue over Nicolas' musings and De Jesus softly blows melodic fragments. The ambience is pastoral and poetic, peppered with fantasy.

This charming collection of warm and captivating pieces is appropriately cinematic. It is a perfect fit for the intriguing docuseries it accompanies and it can be enjoyed on its own. This is accessible and stimulating creative music at its best.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

El Torito; Flor De Mayo; Leaves Fall Early; La Plenitud; Un Gitanito En La Habana; Villalta; The Garden Of Eden; Flor De La Noche Mirando A Las Estrellas; La Despedida.

Personnel

Gyan Riley

guitar

Shanir Blumenkranz

bass

Johnny Gandelsman

violin

Mathias Kunzli

percussion

Michael Nicolas

cello

David Cieri

piano

Jeremy de Jesus

flute

Gonzalo Grau

composer / conductor

Lev Lyova Zhurbin

composer / conductor

Album information

Title: Hemingway | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: In A Circle Records

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