Andy gives Takacs Assad Labro Five Stars for Sonics and for MusicJ and Helen Schlichting, executive producers “Yarlung Records hits the trifecta–engaging unfamiliar music, committed performances and spectacular sound.” This release Yarlung Records hits the trifecta—engaging unfamiliar music, committed performances, and spectacular sound.  Clarice Assad is a Brazilian-American composer/pianist, who moves effortlessly between classical, jazz, and popular idioms.  She accompanies her own scat singing on two selections (Luminous and Milton Nacimento’s Cravo e Canela) while Constellation for violin and piano features a touchingly songful slow movement.  Completely different is the slashing, angular Clash for bandoneón and string quartet.  Bryce Dessner’s quasi-minimalistic Circles is scored for the same forces, and Julien Labro, the album’s featured bandoneón virtuoso, contributes Meditation No. 1, an eight-minute reverie for this instrumental grouping as well.  Kaija Saariaho’s Nocturne, for solo violin, fits the program’s aura of anxious melancholia. The Takács Quartet is approaching their semicentennial, and Continue Reading →

“…a brilliant, wide-ranging and colourful disc”J and Helen Schlichting, executive producers The Takács Quartet was formed almost 50 years ago in 1975 in Hungary. Now based in the United States, original member András Fejér (cello) is joined by Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes (violins) and Richard O’Neill (viola). World-renowned for their performances of traditional mainstream string quartet repertoire and some contemporary works, here they expand outside the classical realm with guests Julien Labro (bandoneon/composition) and Clarice Assad (piano/vocals/composition). The seven compositions jump around stylistically yet still connect. Circles by Bryce Dessner begins with Labro’s calming bandoneon changing to fast florid virtuosic lines supported by contrasting strings with detached ascending/descending lines and rhythmic shots. Labro composed Meditation No.1 during the pandemic. The lyrical bandoneon plays held notes above string lines, tight conversations with strings, bellows shakes and tango stylings referencing Labro’s respect for Piazzolla and Saluzzi. Multi-talented Clarice Assad is represented Continue Reading →

“…can’t help but be compelling, and Takács Assad Labro is assuredly that.  “ J and Helen Schlichting, executive producers An interesting backstory accompanies this collaboration between pianist-composer Clarice Assad, Takács Quartet, and bandoneónist Julien Labro. In truth it was Assad who jumpstarted the project when she contacted the powers-that-be at Yarlung about it. As a piece she’d created for Labro and the string quartet was already being performed by them, she thought a wonderful recording could accrue from an album featuring it, pieces by Labro and Bryce Dessner, and another Assad was developing for violin and piano. Once the label signed on, steps were taken to secure Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa as the recording site and reserve dates in April 2023 for the sessions. The resultant release augments single pieces by Dessner and Labro and three by Assad with treatments of material by Milton Nascimento and Kaija Saariaho. Continue Reading →