Garden of the Gods
Download from iTunes Quantity in Basket: None JUSTIN HELLMAN Garden of the Gods TROY1925 - Price: $16.99
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Lovers of string quartets will enjoy these beautiful compositions.

Justin Hellman came back to composing classical music on his 41st birthday. He started his involvement in music as a teenager by performing electric bass and writing songs. From there he moved to studying the acoustic bass and began focusing more on jazz. His jazz quartet performed regularly in the Bay Area and one of his compositions was featured on an episode of The Good Wife. He went back to school to pursue a medical degree, training in oculoplastic surgery. Garden of the Gods is Hellman's first classical album. The Friction Quartet is known for its commissioning of new works, curating imaginative programs, collaborating with artists, and presenting interactive educational outreach. Since their formation in 2011, Friction has given world premiere performances of more than 80 works. Their performances appear on National Sawdust Tracks, Innova, Albany, and Pinna Records.
Contents:
Justin Hellman, composer
String Quartet No. 1, "Gergana Quartet"
Friction Quartet

Justin Hellman, composer
String Quartet No. 2, "Colorado Quartet"
Friction Quartet
Review:
Justin Hellman (b 1980) is an ophthalmologist and bassist whose music career has mainly been in jazz. This is his first classical album. The 4-movement, 28-minute Quartet 1 is basically a love song for Hellman’s wife Gergana. Much is lyrical, simple in harmony, but there are surprise twists now and then. IV (`Obicham Te’) is capricious. Quartet 2 (4 movements, 30 minutes) bears the subtitle Colorado. My favorite movement is September/October 2023 I (`Cheyenne Mountain’), virtuosic and full of surprises. II is also full of harmonic twists and turns. Fine playing by the Friction Quartet: violinists Otis Harriel and Kevin Rogers, violist Mitso Floor, and cellist Doug Machiz. (American Record Guide)