MUSIC REVIEW BY Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Chenxi Pan is a storyteller. She has a pleasing tone and has composed all thirteen songs on this album. Her vocals are tenor saxophone-smooth. In fact, on the first song "Hymn for the Spring" she and sax man, Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee blend sweetly, like chocolate and caramel. The bluesy guitar of George Rykova adds another texture to the arrangement.
Born and raised in China, Chenxi Pan changed her path of study from literature to music, choosing to pursue jazz in New York City at the New School. Her writing paints pictures of change, growth, promise. Some of her lyrics reflect a search through endless sadness to find love. The melodic and mysterious first tune is beautifully played by Nakadegawa-Lee's tenor saxophone. This is modern jazz with a contemporary twist.
Pan's composing is quite beautiful and intricate. Along with her talented group of musicians, they balance intimacy with sensitive collective interplay. One of the things that I like about Pan's writing is that she lets the music breathe. Her vocals are thoughtful and carefully placed. They don't have to fill up every space, like clutter or hoarding. She is precise and sensitive.
An example of her thoughtful placement of melody and tempo is demonstrated on a tune called "At Dusk." She sings without words. A bird, sitting on the stage like a tree limb, reaching her audience with her silky tone.
I heard great beauty in her composition called "Clarity." What a wonderful melody that she sings with the emotion and simplicity of production, accompanied perfectly by Shaonan 'Trigger' Su at the piano.
Another absolutely beautiful composition is "If Only for a Moment" where she sings and directs her string section with one tender, arm movement. Once again her unpredictable melodic changes flow like honey to the spoon. The lyrics are poignant! Thoughtful. This could become a standard.
"If only for a moment, the noise in my head winds down. The silence will be crystal clear, so will my heart. ... If only for a moment, all the anger will turn into peace. The history will be forgiven. So will my own existence. If only for a moment ... my laughter will be diamonds and my tears strings of pearls," she sings.
This is pure artistry. She is a poet, a songwriter, an arranger, a composer, a revolutionary on many levels. This is an artist to watch, to follow, to support. Chenxi Pan blew me away!
Born and raised in China, Chenxi Pan changed her path of study from literature to music, choosing to pursue jazz in New York City at the New School. Her writing paints pictures of change, growth, promise. Some of her lyrics reflect a search through endless sadness to find love. The melodic and mysterious first tune is beautifully played by Nakadegawa-Lee's tenor saxophone. This is modern jazz with a contemporary twist.
Pan's composing is quite beautiful and intricate. Along with her talented group of musicians, they balance intimacy with sensitive collective interplay. One of the things that I like about Pan's writing is that she lets the music breathe. Her vocals are thoughtful and carefully placed. They don't have to fill up every space, like clutter or hoarding. She is precise and sensitive.
An example of her thoughtful placement of melody and tempo is demonstrated on a tune called "At Dusk." She sings without words. A bird, sitting on the stage like a tree limb, reaching her audience with her silky tone.
I heard great beauty in her composition called "Clarity." What a wonderful melody that she sings with the emotion and simplicity of production, accompanied perfectly by Shaonan 'Trigger' Su at the piano.
Another absolutely beautiful composition is "If Only for a Moment" where she sings and directs her string section with one tender, arm movement. Once again her unpredictable melodic changes flow like honey to the spoon. The lyrics are poignant! Thoughtful. This could become a standard.
"If only for a moment, the noise in my head winds down. The silence will be crystal clear, so will my heart. ... If only for a moment, all the anger will turn into peace. The history will be forgiven. So will my own existence. If only for a moment ... my laughter will be diamonds and my tears strings of pearls," she sings.
This is pure artistry. She is a poet, a songwriter, an arranger, a composer, a revolutionary on many levels. This is an artist to watch, to follow, to support. Chenxi Pan blew me away!