Beata!

The fourth and latest album by one of my favorite musicans, a New York-based Korean-American pianist-composer (I'm running out of hyphens!) came in the other day, accompanied as always by a nice note.  Not that we require a nice note to play a CD, but it's a thoughtful "we're all in this together" gesture.  Varied in scoring, from traditional piano trio to marimba solo, the selections draw one in, keep one engaged, and never, ever, try one's patience or waste one's time.  Sprightly in rhythm and generous with melody, the music calls to mind the late composer Lou Harrison's statment that music is basically "a song and a dance."  In some ways, the music harkens back to the 17th century (the most underrated classical century of the last milennium, in my humble opinion) in its playful, unpretentious character.  In other ways, the music is as up-to-date as the latest pop album, though I suspect that the album I'm gushing over will hold up better than most pop-du-jour.  Making no Grand Statement, the music is instead something just as important: a great pleasure.  So, thanks and best wishes back at you, Beata Moon.  Good luck with your new "Saros" CD; we'll be playing it big-time on WFCR, starting with two selections during the 11 am hour on Thursday.