Ukraine / Russia, 1990, ECM style jazz / chamber jazz
Mikhail Alperin & Arkady Shilkloper – Wave of Sorrow: There’s really nothing sorrowful about this album. It’s actually quite fun, light, and charming, with just the lightest touches of Slavic folk thrown in… and an unexpected run of sudden scat singing. This is very ECM, though: not very challenging but supremely pleasant. They make a lot out of a single piano and a few horns, blowing through your listening day like an invigorating spring breeze, perhaps upsetting a few papers on your desk and drawing a reluctant chuckle and shrug from you.
Museum Musica 