Masloboev, Evgeny / Masloboeva, Anastasia – “Russian Folksongs In The Key of Sadness” – [Leo Records]

humana   6/14/2012   CD, Jazz

Take a look at the pictures of Anastasia in the insert, and be assured that her voice is just as enchanting as the fanciful photos of her tucked in the heart of a tree viewing a firefly cupped in her hands and of her pictured in a field with a wreath of daisies on her head. The loveliness of her voice is set in the captivating atmosphere of her father Evgeny’s instrumentation, which ranges from drums, strings, block-flutes, vibes, and marimbas to kitchen utensils, pots, and industrial garbage. The Russian lyrics are sad because the music is dedicated to the memory of Evgeny’s mother. At times the music sounds like chanting you would hear from a convent, and others it is more lively thanks to the creative percussion. All in all, a lovely release.