Wish
MUSIC OF VALERIE COLEMAN
Alexa Still, Flute | Evan Hines, piano
Carmen Twillie Ambar, Spoken Word
Wish: Music of Valerie Coleman Review
by James Manheim
This album of flute music by composer Valerie Coleman opens with the spoken words of Maya Angelou: "I
note the obvious differences in the human family." This is a suitable epigraph for this remarkable collection
of works, some of which pertain to the African American experience, but others of which do not. Amazonia,
for example, is an evocation of the rainforest that is under such threat. The centerpiece is Coleman's Wish
Sonatine, introduced by its own poem of Fred D'Aguiar. The Wish Sonatine is a detailed, harrowing
depiction of the Middle Passage. Other works have Chinese or several different South American
references; another title is Fanmi Imen, which has a Haitian Creole title but draws on a line of influences
running from Asian sounds to flamenco. What makes this music so compelling is how well it hangs
together, even with all this diversity. The key is that the foundation of her musical language, somewhat
French in orientation, is strong enough to make unity in all the diversity. The performances by flutist Alexa
Still and pianist Evan Hines (Danza de la Mariposa is a solo flute work) are excellent, with a steady pulse
that allows for rhythmic freedom, and the sound from Oberlin University's in-house label is fine. This album
is highly recommended for classes in musical fusion and, indeed, for anyone.
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