Improvisations In Concert

Performer: Peter Kater
Producer: Peter Kater
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: Longtime collaborators pianist Peter Kater and Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai have made beautiful spirit music over the years, weaving a soft yet soaring tapestry of ivory and wind reflections into creative and majestic new age themes. Improvisations in Concert, which captures the spontaneous exchange between these veterans, must have seemed like a great idea, but comes across as somewhat scattered over the long haul. Kater's recent solo albums have been some of the most rhythmic and melodic in new age, and stripping down to this come-what-may setting forsakes much of the excitement he's capable of. He's best when he swells up into brief but poignant crescendos, but much of the time he's just sort of noodling in a lovely way. Nakai's flute grandeur is more about vibe and atmosphere than memorable songs, yet is quite sweeping and hypnotic at certain points. Over the course of an hour, however, what starts out as a gentle sway leads to similar-themed numbness. It's best to focus on individual tracks like "Tohono," which combines Kater's best sense of thematic construction with Nakai's haunting vocals. ~ Jonathan Widran

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