From The Blue Notebooks : Tracklisting : 01.The Blue Notebooks 02. On The Nature Of Daylight 03. Horizon Variations 04. Shadow Journal 05. Iconography 06.Vladimir’s Blues 07. Arboretum 08. Old Song 09. Organum 10. The Trees 11. Written On The Sky So often we anxiously anticipate certain releases only to find ourselves disappointed when they fail to match our expectations. Then there are less familiar ones for which our expectations are lower, yet we ultimately find ourselves floored when we discover how great they are. The Blue Notebooks is one such instance, and what a beautiful recording it is. Prior to its release, Richter studied piano with the late avant-garde Italian composer Luciano Berio and founded the classical group Piano Circus (an ensemble of six pianists that formed in 1989 to perform Steve Reichs Six Pianos) whose repertoire included works by Arvo Pärt and Philip Glass. Richters first recording, Memoryhouse, an ambitious fusion of modern classical music, electronics, and field recordings, was recorded with The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, his resume includes contributions to The Future Sound of Londons Dead Cities and Roni Sizes In the Mode. Released on Fat-Cats off-shoot label 130701, Richters second album, The Blue Notebooks, features a small core of musicians, specifically Richter on piano, violinists Louisa Fuller and Natalie Bonner, viola player John Mecalfe, and cellists Chris Worsey and Philip Sheppard. While piano and strings dominate …
