Thoughts & Prayers: Music by Larry Bell
Larry Bell, Jennifer Rachel Webb, Sam Ou, Deborah Nemko, David Wallace, Jennifer Rachael Webb
Thoughts and Prayers is an album of tributes that draw upon composer Larry Bell's personal, social, national, and international awareness. The music is drawn from a solemn personal conviction and desire to preserve the lives of others in our memory. It is also a simple act of bearing witness to events that may be all too soon forgotten or too painful to contemplate. Bell offers four works for solo piano interspersed with two works for soprano, cello/viola, and piano. Award-winning composer Larry Bell's music has been commissioned and performed by a distinguished array of musicians, ensembles, and orchestras. He has taught at The Juilliard School, the Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory, and the Berklee College of Music. He is joined on this recording by mezzo-soprano Jennifer Webb, cellist Sam Ou, pianist Deborah Nemko, and violist David Wallace.
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Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Third Elegy: In Memory of K.E.O. | Larry Bell | Larry Bell (piano) |
| Halcyon Song | Larry Bell | Jennifer Rachel Webb (mezzo-soprano); Sam Ou (cello); Larry Bell (piano) |
| Nine Variations on We Shall Overcome | Larry Bell | Deborah Nemko (piano) |
| Newtown Variations | Larry Bell | David Wallace (viola); Larry Bell (piano) |
| Prayers Book I | Larry Bell | Larry Bell (piano) |
| Domenica a Filicudi | Larry Bell | Jennifer Rachel Webb (mezzo-soprano); David Allace (viola); Larry Bell (piano) |
| A Postcard from Ukraine | Larry Bell | Larry Bell (piano) |
Reviews
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A listen that takes into account Larry Bell's personal, social, national, and international awareness, the esteemed composer brings in help on vocals and strings for these songs that preserve the memory of those lost, and the events that we should never forget occurred, despite how painful they may have been. "Third Elegy: In Memory Of K.E.O"starts the listen with a solo piano piece from Bell, where his cautious and warm key patterns emit much beauty, and "Halcyon Song"follows with Jennifer Richard Webb's stunning mezzo-soprano and Sam Ou's elegant cello helping make for a stirring climate. Further along, "Nine Variations We Shall Overcome"places Deborah Nemko on piano for the highly melodic and meticulous delivery, while "Prayers Book I"pays tribute to Travon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and many others who lost their lives due to very unjust circumstances, as Bell's lone piano alternates between ominous rumbling, dense moments and swift mysteriousness. Near the end, "Domenica a Filicudi"showcases Webb's flawless pipes amid David Wallace's intimate viola and Bell's mature keys for the album's best, and "A Postcard From Ukraine"exits the listen with Bell's single piano that's full of tuneful, rich playing. Bell has an impressive resume that includes teaching at the Juilliard School, the Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory, and the Berklee College of Music, and this exceptional reflection of the often difficult times we live in is quite articulate.
*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.