TAKÁCS ASSAD LABRO

Pieces for bandoneón, string quartet, piano, and voice

Takács String Quartet, Clarice Assad (piano and voice), Julien Labro (bandoneón) YAR59691 (24/88.2 download). 2024. Bob Attiyeh, J and Helen Schlicting, prods.; Bob Attiyeh, eng. PERFORMANCE

SONICS

Yarlung’s latest “audiophile” recording is a breath of fresh air in every respect. Offering seven accessible, beguilingly fresh works, all composed within the last 53 years (and several quite new), it brings together stellar artistic forces: the 49-year-old Takács String Quartet; composer/pianist/vocalist Clarice Assad; and bandoneón/accordion virtuoso Julien Labro. If you’re intrigued by the thought of such a combination of artists performing music that harks back to Piazzolla and classic Brazilian jazz, and also forward, then this is a must listen: You will rarely hear these artists recorded with this much color saturation, warmth, transparency, and immediacy.

The program starts with Assad’s Clash, an exciting, sometimes dissonant work, complete with distant sound effects, which she wrote for the Takács and Labro to tour all over the world, followed by Labro’s mellow, warm, reflective Meditation No. 1, whose mild touch of heartbreak harks back to Piazzolla. The third work is Bryce Dessner’s nouveau-minimalist, forward-driving Circles. To these Assad (who constructed the program) added Milton Nascimento’s classic Brazilian jazz tune Cravo e Canela, offering her own unique blend of Brazilian scat and Indian vocalization. Next up: Assad’s own endearing three-movement Constellations followed by the late Kaija Saariaho’s marvelous Nocturne, a short, magical journey into the unknown, dedicated to Witold Lutoslawski.

Takács Assad Labro merges elements of classical, jazz, and contemporary music as it blends distinct musical cultures. Designed to delight, it is less likely to knock your socks off than inspire you to take them off as you sit back, absorb, and smile. Highly recommended.