American Record Guide May/June 2008

Spectral Trio
The Spectra Trio performs works by Madeleine Dring, William Grant Still, and Jean-Michel Damase that could be classified mostly as parlor music – enjoyable to play and hear. Their performances are exquisite, and a few of the pieces (by Damase) new to me are a delight. Spectral Trio has a full-bodied and unified sound that is comparable only to the most seasoned musical collaborators, and their sense of the style and balance is ideal.
The two works by Madeleine Dring, her Trio and Danza Gaya, bring a sometimes carefree, sometimes sappy, but usually delightful tone to the program. William Grant Still’s Incantation and Dance for oboe and piano and the popular Miniatures are light-hearted but substantial pieces; and the Four Divertissements and Trio by Damase – my favorite on the program – exemplify that wonderful salon music style.
In every piece, one hears a refinement of style in each of the instruments, and each of their styles blends with the others. No one musician plays his or her line above the others where it is merely subordinate, and no one line ever seems to be covered up or lost in the texture. In their interpretation of the music they seem to have clearly picked up on the occasional influence of other composers, such as Francaix, Poulenc, or Stravinsky. More important, they pick up on the essence of the pieces. And in their performances they have brought out all the right elements so that the music might sound as natural as possible.
This is a great recording, and I recommend it to all chamber music enthusiasts. It is a tragedy that pianist Kimberly Schmidt passed away at a young age before this was released; but it is heart-warming to think that his beautiful performance on this recording, issued lovingly in his memory, will live as a legacy for the Spectral Trio.
SCHWARTZ

Spectral Trio

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