Maya Belsitzman & Uriel Herman - 2024 - Pauses in Shades

(31:59; Ubuntu Music)

Track list:
1. Dew (Tal) 3:14
2. Homage to Chopin 2:24
3. On a Boat 3:01
4. First Step (Nur) 4:16
5. The Naked Streets 2:38
6. Dance of the Blinds 3:49
7. Not Alone 2:20
8. Echo of Regrets 4:03
9. Sandbox 4:20
10. Shades 1:54

Line-up:
Maya Belsitzman - piano, vocals
Uriel Herman - cello


Israeli composers and musicians Maya Belsitzman and Uriel Herman are, according to the press release, seasoned and accomplished artists in their own right, with well established careers that have developed over the last couple of decades on a national as well as international level. While they got to know each other many years ago, they have never had the chance to create music together in earlier years. This has now been rectified with the release of the album "Pauses in Shades", which was released through UK label Ubuntu Music.

While I understand that jazz is the main genre this label focus on, on this occasion they have released a production I'd classify as being more of a classical music album myself. Probably and presumably a little bit of an experimental creation inside that context, but still with closer ties to the world of classical music than to jazz as such.

It is a careful and intimate production we get here too, with Belsitzman performing on the piano and adding some mainly careful vocal details, while Herman showcase his skills on the cello. With some additional effects added here and there.

My impression of this album is that this is a creation less about the individual compositions though, and rather more a creation about moods, atmospheres and emotions. Many of these compositions play around with tones, notes and effects that to my mind reflect introspection of a more melancholic kind, and with frequent travels into the realm of both sadness and occasionally also despair. With some moments of a more uplifting nature, which does add a glimmer of hope into these subtle but also tension filled landscapes.

It is in subtle manners and with an elegant touch that the twosome produce these associations for me as a listener. Some nervous tones there, a surge of higher intensity there, and always with the composition moving in some direction or other. In many ways the songs are a bit of a cinematic experience, albeit one where the journey is an internal one. Where one might speculate that the worries, fears and hopes of the performers for some subjects or others may be reflected in the landscapes they have chosen to explore in musical form here.

What the creators wanted to achieve with these musical paintings I can't really tell, but for me these ten compositions comes across as intimate and emotional journeys more than anything else. And where my associations goes towards sadness and melancholy and a longing for something to happen being present alongside the hope for this to happen and the despair that comes with the fear of this not happening.

The cello and the piano are the key instruments on this album, supplemented by occasional vocals and effects. If subtle, elegant music that probably can be described as classical in orientation using these instruments and elements in an introspective, intimate and emotional manner strikes you as interesting, this is an album that should be quite the rewarding experience to explore.

Olav M. Björnsen, September 2024

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/maya.belsitzman/
https://urielherman.com/
https://www.weareubuntumusic.com/