New Zealand Guitar Quartet

The Passing Of A Black Star (Rattle)

A concert favourite since their inception in 2010, what makes this album by the New Zealand Guitar Quartet (Owen Moriarty, John Couch, Christopher Hill and Jane Curry) stand out, are the two commissioned works – The Passing Of A Black Star, a tribute to David Bowie reimagined by Marian Budos and Bruce Paine’s sublime, delicate and almost Renaissance style Aotearoa Suite. Throw in the passion of Albinez and a surprisingly workable and enjoyable rendition of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 3 and you have strings that give meaning to strings. - Mike Alexander