On this disc James Newton, himself a master of the jazz flute, includes not one but two “classical” ventures for his instrument, long ones at that, plus a lengthy and involved piece for solo violin. This is very brave indeed. As the Sound of Many Waters and Like Jasper and Carnelian, Newton’s self-played solo flights, are brilliantly executed virtuoso outings. However, they fall into the trap often set when performers compose for their own instrument, being more flashy than substantive, as if a means to demonstrate the composer’s own performing technique rather than construct a musical argument. Newton is a whiz at all the avant tricks (key clicks, singing one note while playing another, multiphonics) but this alone is not enough to carry off either piece. As the Sound of Many Waters has some pretty moments, aching and slow, but ultimately it is unsatisfying as it wanders more than arrives. Like Jasper and Carnelian is pure breathless aggravation–a fly buzzing near your ear. If that’s what the composer meant to accomplish, he certainly was successful, but you have to wonder at his motives.
Roy Malan takes the solo violin piece Gihon for all it has, sharply navigating this work’s complicated surface–an intelligent reading of a well-thought composition. Violet is a spiky piece of chamber music that does wander a bit, but its sumptuous jazz-influenced harmonies and clever orchestration make it a pleasant journey nonetheless. The disc’s high point is the song cycle The King’s Way. Not only does soprano Adina Aaron sing with the proper soulful angularity (if not a touch on the heavy side), but the material Newton gives her is striking and original, well suited to her voice. The menacing creep of “Prayer Through Strife”, the cycle’s middle song, works especially well, drums and piano building the ensemble to a climax in several keys, noise that gives way to a rapturous hymn tune in the flute. David Milnes leads the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players with easy aplomb, but the relatively thin-sounding recording does the music something of a disservice. (Do yourself a favor and listen to Newton’s music before you read the notes: much unnecessary flap is made over the composer’s race; it borders on insulting; just skip it.)
