Kathodik Webzine’s review of ‘Reflections’ translated from the original Italian.
Luciano Feliciani
Published July 17, 2024
(Albany Records, 2024)
I would describe the new CD by the great American pianist and composer James Adler with one word: Stupendous.
In this new recording Adler creates a marriage, a sort of bridge, between contemporary music and music from the 19th and 20th centuries, creating an ideal path that gives us different levels of interpretation.
The CD opens with A Curtis Reflection, commissioned from the author by the Curtis Institute in honor and memory of the studies that Adler completed at this prestigious school. A suite for solo piano in three movements, it is quite interesting in its use of harmonic language, with open chords and engaging harmonies, where the major and minor second clusters become characteristic, and the melodies unravel by moving within continuously changing harmonies. It’s a valuable piece of great compositional workmanship which is just as remarkable as the performance of Adler himself, who with his unmistakable touch excellently interprets with mastery and depth all the songs contained in the CD.
Mistieke Feetjies by Henco Espag is also beautiful, a work that evokes imaginary and fascinating landscapes through nostalgic harmonies and beautiful melodies.
Paul Turok’s Little Suite for Piano, very rhythmic and refined, is an equally captivating and interesting discovery.
The CD ends with two classic piano works: the Deux Arabesques by the exceptional Claude Debussy, which take on new light under Adler’s expert fingers; and the Kinderszenen (opus 15) by Robert Schumann, eighteen minutes of sublime music that take us back to the purest and simplest romanticism in Adler’s moving interpretation which, with his musical sensitivity, gives new life to this classic masterpiece of short piano compositions.
A recommended CD to listen to with great attention!
Rating 9/10