Black Cedar played the Paganini with abandon, a happy way to launch a concert. The slow Andante movement was especially gorgeous, a showcase for the beauty of these three instruments in ensemble. Delivered with polish and skill, the acoustical balance was remarkably in control.
Tres Colores was clearly a major undertaking; but those willing to listen to it attentively were richly rewarded.
Black Cedar forges a new repertoire with flair…they are not only willing but also quite capable of pursuing ‘a Path Less Trod’…audiences will be fortunate for the opportunity to hear live performances as these three musicians pave their own unique road.
Black Cedar mixed classics with avant-garde and a dash of folk music into an oddly coherent and entertaining evening… The odd element was represented by the diversity of origins of the music, and entertaining because of the high quality of the performances. The Trio creates a warm sound…a crisp and articulate sound all around, and they play joyfully.
You can easily see why this unique group has become a chamber music draw in the musically rich Bay Area.
Black Cedar has done a wonderful job of making the case that chamber music can involve approaches to instrumentation not usually expected.
Each of the pieces performed had its own unique approach to engaging the serious listener. Black Cedar provided an abundance of diversity without ever leaving that listener feeling overloaded.
Three top musicians…a sound that is balanced, expressive and provocative.
Hats off to them…their connectivity with each other was most apparent…as was their ability to convey their joy to the audience.
“The concert was a highly engaging affair, covering a variety of different styles, each with its own distinctive approach.”
Something special is stirring in our backyard…Lin demonstrates comfortable execution of sustained fast fretwork. They perform beautifully together: perfect synchronization of subtle rhythms and phrases.
Mysterious and penetrating low notes of alto flute…a dark density of harshly scrubbed cello with the metallic spangle of sharply plucked guitar notes; high bird-calls on wooden flute and low cello whispers…The piece certainly worked, and that, powerfully.
“They bring a solid academic foundation to their performances…a delightful introduction to early repertoire, presented with historically-informed performances on modern instruments.”