<<  -- 3 --  Bill Newman    DEATH BE NOT PROUD

In the first movement, harmonic fragments, mainly in up-moving serial sequences, interchange instrumental solos and combinations during an amazing proliferation of colour spectra and constant shifts of mood. At 15:41, Imbrie never lacks the art of interplay, or the loss of ideas, knitting together his formulae in a quest for re-discovery with clearness of craft and balancing of forces.

The central Lento movement (almost half as long) reverses the tone row and proceeds in dialogue fashion to pinpoint the intimacy between solo pianist and his collaborators, while the Rondo Finale, starting as an impression of off-beat, jazz-like extemporisation, grows in complex strides through a succession of glowing multi-rhythmic, many-sided impressions into dramatic propensities - all finely held in check and under control - until momentum takes over and mutes are removed for an intense climax where the Rondo theme returns and taxi-horns re-emerge in full force.

A quite wonderful CD of a composer and his music that should be at the forefront of live concert activities.