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Unexceptionable

MALCOLM TATTERSALL reviews music from Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina


Fleur de Son    FDS 57981

nos.tal.gia - music from Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina. © 2007 Fleur de Son Classics Ltd

Nathan Kolosko's second CD presents the lighter side of the classical guitarists' core repertoire, South American pieces well known to all who enjoy the sound of the instrument. Bossa nova, sambas, Venezuelan waltzes, choros and character pieces make up his very attractive programme of some fifty three minutes, just a little short by today's standards but ideal for a relaxed evening.

Kolosko demonstrates his mastery of the material from the beginning [listen -- track 1, 0:01-1:10]. His playing is technically clean and makes expressive but never excessive use of rubato.

He is joined by flautist Carl Dimow, a fluent player with a background in world music (particularly klezmer) and jazz as well as classical music. Flute and guitar is always a lovely combination and it is extended here by Dimow's occasional use of bass flute. He plays just one unaccompanied item on the disc, Piazzolla's Lento meditativo, and has chosen bass flute for it [listen -- track 8, 0:00-1:12].

The ambiance generally reflects the title, 'a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition', to quote the dictionary definition helpfully provided by the art director, but lifts often enough for variety [listen -- track 13, 0:00-1:10].

The recorded sound is excellent and the minimalist packaging is pleasant. One might wish for a little more detail on the track listing (how do you find 'that nice piece with the flute' when the track list doesn't say which tracks the flute appears on?) but nos.tal.gia is otherwise unexceptionable.

The only difficulty it faces is that it is also unexceptional: it may stay too close to the centre of the mainstream for its own commercial good. Anyone who likes this style of music will be perfectly happy with this disc, and it deserves to do well, but neither performances nor selections are extraordinary enough to lift it above the host of similar recordings.

Copyright © 23 June 2007 Malcolm Tattersall, Townsville, Australia

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nos.tal.gia - music from brazil, venezuela and argentina

FDS 57981 Stereo NEW RELEASE 53'09" 2007 Fleur de Son Classics Ltd

Nathan Kolosko, guitar; Carl Dimow, flute and bass flute

Paulo Bellinati (born 1950): Modinha; Dilermando Reis (1916-1977): Eterna Saudade; Baden Powell (1937-2000): Retrato Brazileiro; Valsa sem Nome; Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959): Bachianas Brazileiras No 5; Celso Machado (born 1953): Sambossa (Bossa Nova); Antonio Lauro (1917-1986): Maria Carolina; Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992): Lento Medatativo (sic) - Solo Bass Flute; Baden Powell: Samba em Preludio; Heitor Villa-Lobos: Modinha; João Teixeira Guimarães (1883-1947): Sons de Carilhoes; Antonio Lauro: Natalia (Valse No 3); Celso Machado: Quebra Queixo (Choro); Raul Borges (1882-1967) (arranged by Kolosko/Dimov): Valse Venezolano; Antonio Lauro (arranged by Kolosko/Dimov): El Negrito

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MALCOLM TATTERSALL REVIEWS KOLOSKO'S 'SONATAS AND SONATINAS'

NATHAN KOLOSKO

CARL DIMOW

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