¡Viva la danza!

Duo Multicorde: Andrés Madariaga, guitar, and Maria-Theresa Freibott, harp. Self-released, 2021.

Also for consideration are two duo albums. In their debut album ¡Viva la danza!, Duo Multicorde, guitarist Andrés Madariaga and harpist Maria-Theresa Freibott, play as one with a rich blend of sound. Sensual, but subtle, the repertoire includes Spanish classics in arrangement like Manuel de Falla’s La Vida Breve, where the artists accentuate the instruments’ sonic peculiarities in a swirling whirlwind; and Enrique Granados’ understated Oriental and Villanesca. Most exciting is Maximo Pujol’s voluptuous Suite Mágica; the Vals in particular is joyous and freeing. The playing is absolutely heavenly in the wistful and searching Due imaggini animate by Konstantin Vassiliev before it erupts into a driving funk. 

Hypnosis

Laura Logan Brandenburg, harp, and Don Bailey, flute. Albany
Records, 2022.

Harpist Laura Logan Brandenburg and flutist Don Bailey set a high bar in their album, Hypnosis. A beautifully recorded survey of many classics like Jacque Ibert’s Entr’act, Gabriel Fauré’s Sicilienne, Alan Hovhaness’ The Garden of Adonis, there are also a few new additions to the repertoire handily arranged by Brandenburg, including the title track by Ian Clarke, played with mesmerizing fervor. Also delightful is Herman Beeftink’s Seasons where Bailey shines with a ravishing tone against Brandenburg’s incisive lyricism. In John Marson’s Spring Blooms, their tones literally blossom with color while Rhonda Larson’s Sweet Simplicity gets the blood pumping. •