This past June, the music community lost one of its finest advocates, performers, and teachers when bassist Robert Black (1956-2023) passed away from colon cancer. Composer John Luther Adams (1953- )’s posthumous work for solo and multiple bassists is performed absolutely beautifully in this satisfying version, in which Maestro Blake plays all parts ( Two pieces are for double bass solo and one piece is for 5 double bass). In this listener’s opinion, it was a fitting tribute to Robert Blake and his legacy of great acting.
Let me start by saying that Cold Blue is a brand that has defined their own take on post-minimalist experimentation and is one of those brands that I recommend you buy into anything they choose to release. Therefore, this chamber music by John Luther Adams fits best into the niche defined by Cold Blue. In fact, this is Adams’ ninth CD on the label. Robert Blake was perhaps the ideal musician to explore the depth of the sound of “the other John Adams.” This listener could not imagine these works being done any better. These performances are unambiguous, examples of interpretation with which all subsequent performers must contend.
The opening piece, “Those High Places” (2007), is a three-movement work originally written for solo violin and performed here for the first time with a double bass. Blake almost reimagined Adams’ work for his instrument. It’s not just transcription. This version is actually a new work in the soloist’s sensitive and insightful hands.
These three movements, like the last three songs on the album, serve as bookends and nicely outline the central piece “Darkness and Scattered Light” (2023). Unlike those bookends, this work is one large movement for 5 double basses. This multi-track recording is an important and highly effective production effort that reflects both the composer’s intentions and the performers’ efforts.
The last three tracks are closely related to the first three in their creation. Both rely on special tuning to produce the desired effect.
This version is also a great example of the art style, characterized by looks that are accompanied by internal sounds. The photography, overall design, and visual pleasure create a metaphor for the sound of the recording and pay homage to the composer and performer alike. It was just all-out for me. This is Cold Blue at its best.
