Marty Walker
Dancing on Water
Walker-clarinet, bass clarinet
Ten compositions from various composers highlighting Walker’s clarinet playing. Daniel Lentz’s “Songs of the Sirens” more than lives up to its title. I’ve enjoyed this piece for over 20 years on the Montagnana Trio’s old lp and this version is every bit the equal of that one. This seductive and erotic work might make Ulysses reconsider and embrace the sirens. This alone is worth the price of admission. It’s involved enough for academic study, pleasant enough for salon music. Thank goodness Lentz has avoided the retentiveness of so many contemporary classical composers. The Fox and Fink pieces are drier and less daring than their usual output. I prefer their mystical approach more. I can’t get excited about the Rick Cox pieces either, but his work in ensembles is not to be missed. So the cd here is saved by the bell, or by the Lentz.
Cold Blue
CB 0005
Richard Groom