Founder of Cold Blue Music Jim Fox has released
numerous works on this label, but this is the first time I have encountered
either.
Black Water, as with most other Cold Blue releases, appears here
as a ‘CD single’, so as far as playing time goes what you
see is what you get. The work is for three pianos, all parts taken by
the performer Bryan Pezzone. The parts are separated convincingly in
the mix. While it is always something of a compromise using the same
instrument for a multi-piano work, tending to homogenise sonorities
rather than generating character through subtle differences, this is
a very minor point which I doubt would concern listeners, let alone
critics.
Black Water is a dramatic, intense piece in which quasi-tremolando
textures form an important element. Harmonies and pedal tones are sustained
in this way, as is the feeling of substance and a kind of heroic minimalist
romanticism which is both forceful and impressively compelling at the
same time. These Cold Blue releases have minimal information about the
music or the composer, though Jim Fox does have an extensive
website.
Everyone will have their own associative words for summing up a work
like this. I suppose mine would be ‘symphonic’ and ‘cinematic’,
the music having an extrovertly theatrical feel which should appeal
to multi-piano performers such as
Jeroen
van Veen.
Black Water is a striking and effective piece which stimulates
and deserves repeated hearing.
Dominy Clements
