CD Review | Wanderlust (Leaf Music, 2023)

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Wanderlust
Lara Deutsch, flute; Adam Cicchillitti, guitar
Leaf Music, August 2023

Flutist Lara Deutsch and guitarist Adam Cicchillitti bring travel to life in Wanderlust. The concept for the album originated during the pandemic, when travel was virtually impossible. The duo tactfully uses music’s ability to transport listeners, embarking on a journey through sound. The album opens with Jason Noble’s “Folk Suite, ” in which each movement features extended techniques, performed by flute and guitar, to emulate a different part of the world. The third movement, “Ceilidh,” which is meant to emulate the joy and business of a Newfoundland kitchen party, stands out as a highlight. A jet whistle (a glissando-like sound made on the flute with very fast air and a tight embouchure) opens the piece, swiftly followed by percussion techniques on the guitar that expertly captures the foot-stomping ambience often associated with Eastern Canada.

The music then brings us to Argentina, with Piazzolla’s “Café 1930” from Histoire du Tango. Known for his beautiful flute melodies, the essence of Piazzolla is on display in this romantic ode to the streets of Buenos Aires. Cicchillitti’s masterful playing and expert technical skill support the wide dynamic range in Deutsch’s soaring melodies. Following a fervent middle section, the basics of the “tango” genre are recalled in a beautiful ending.

Cicchillitti arranged some of Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances to bring the listeners to Eastern Europe. Bartók’s folk melodies are performed with careful attention to the rhythmic accents so important in this genre. A similar level of attention is evident in the arrangement of Chopin’s Mazurkas, and the stylistic distinctions between music from Romania and Poland are made especially clear in their performance.

In all, this album is a marvelous escapade to many corners of the globe. Deutsch and Cicchillitti skilfully capture the nuances and styles of a variety of composers and music. Anyone seeking a musical journey is sure to be satisfied with this mixture of old and new, near and far.

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