STEVE RIVERA
DIVIDING THE DARKNESS
Independent/Little Hartley Music
Contemporary instrumental/classical
There’s a lilting elegiac feeling of melancholy but also a subtle meditative quality that underpins this beautiful collection of instrumental pieces by southern Californian pianist and composer Steve Rivera that the impressive roster of musicians he’s been able to call on for this first commercial release have obviously understood perfectly. You know something’s going on when you have the legendary bass player Tony Levin, he of Peter Gabriel fame, and Cassandra Wilson/Pat Methany percussionist Jeff Haynes on hand to add their unique and in this instance perfectly understated flourishes to the music. While there’s no singing as such, Noah Wilding slips in and out of various musical movements with the lightest of ethereal vocalizing, while violinist Charlie Bisharat (Kitaro, Yanni, The Rolling Stones) and cellist Eugene Friesen (The Paul Winter Consort) among others add to the enchantment. Dividing The Darkness is very much a relaxed, dreamy affair, perfect for soothing the cares of the day away.
MICHAEL SMITH