A Light Shining Through

A solo virtuoso, Friesen can dazzle....but lately his work has settled into an elegant, melodic simplicity. His compositions flow like the modal music of the '70s, yet they also feel grounded...
DownBeat Magazine

Though a major international jazz figure for decades, it wasn't until 2015 that a tour allowed bassist-composer David Friesen the opportunity to visit his mother's ancestral home of Ukraine for the first time. Welcomed by a camera crew and introductions to pivotal musicians and cultural institutions, his journey was first documented on 2020's critically acclaimed Testimony, recorded live at Kyiv's National Philharmonic Hall with the National Academic Symphonic Band of Ukraine. The ensuing pandemic and war put further plans on hold, but Friesen was able to record with the Kyiv Mozart String Quartet in October 2021, and those recordings provide the framework and soul of A Light Shining Through. Adding organic percussion sounds and saxophone to his singing melodies, the album's tuneful vignettes reflect the many emotions exposed through his journey of ancestral discovery.

"...a musical manifestation of the spiritual light that offers forgiveness, hope and purpose." DownBeat  

Click here to listen to the album

Track Listing

1 Little Ella Bella 4:08
2 Time Through Light 2:16
3 Dressed in Red 1:32
4 My Prayer 3:59
5 Blue and Red 2:21
6 Children's Song 2:23
7 Staircase 5:11
8 One Last Time 5:45
9 Islands 0:49
10 Passage 5:05
11 Luxury Liner 3:57
12 A Light Shining Through 5:01
13 Festival 1:24
14 Glide 2:15
15 Softly Tells the Story 5:58
16 Forgiveness 2:37

Composed & Arranged by David Friesen
Color Pool Music (BMI) / Bug Music (BMG Chrysalis)
String Quartet arranged by Oleksii Vikulov (1,4,7,8,10,12,15)

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