American Sketches—Kristin Lee, violin/FHR CD
I receive between ten to fifteen emails a week from excited PR folks telling me about their latest boutique CD release of a star performer playing all matter of repertoire. Some of it is really “out there”. As the major record companies recede into relative classical obscurity, the recorded legacy of many gifted young players examining varied repertoire continues to grow. Hope.
The email introducing American Sketches seemed intriguing—interesting, unusual repertoire played by a young violinist. Hey, let’s give it a whirl.
My thanks to Kira Grunenberg, Publicist | Jensen Artists, for taking the time to send me the CD. Many times, you’ll get a download link or stream address. If I’m going to review something, I like a CD in my hand. And with American Sketches, I’m so glad I requested one.
Kristin Lee is Seoul-born, Juilliard-trained and an Assistant Professor of Violin at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She has great credentials. This is her debut CD.
This is the second violin CD I’ve requested recently. The first was also intriguing, both in name and repertoire. Sonatas & Myths—Sonatas for violin and piano by Szymanowski, Dohnányi & Bartók. A superb CD featuring the playing of the American violin/piano duo Elizabeth Chang, violin and Steven Beck, piano. So good that it made our 2024 Recordings of the Year list.
Kristin Lee is another superb young violinist. As I listened to this fascinating CD, what struck me most about her playing was her beautiful sound. She can manipulate that sound to suit the interesting American repertoire she and her very talented accompanists, Jeremy Ajani Jordan and Jun Cho, prepared.
Lee has a technique to burn; the opening of Four Rags by John Novacek (b. 1964), “Intoxication,” takes off at a hell of clip. Lee’s bow arm is up for all of it. This very challenging work holds no fears for Lee. And Novacek incorporates the kitchen sink of violin techniques into his fun work.
I flinched a little at the inclusion of American Standard, Gershwin’s But Not For Me and a Monk gem, Monk’s Mood. Oftentimes, this type of repertoire falls flat with classical artists; even the greatest like Kiri ti Kanawa, Frederika von Stade and Yehudi Menuhin have tripped up attempting this style of music. No fliching needed, Lee can swing and can play a ballad very beautifully and with great taste.
And while she’s swinging, you’ll hear one of the best arrangements of Joplin’s The Entertainer by Jeremy Ajani Jordan. But while she’s “ragging,” her tone never loses that glorious centre. And her intonation is flawless.
Other works programmed by Lee follow a more straightforward classical route like the lovely Amy Beach Romance and the Burleigh Southland Sketches (Wikipedia writes: The first black composer who was instrumental in developing characteristically American music, Burleigh made black music available to classically trained artists both by introducing them to spirituals and by arranging spirituals in a more classical form). All are thoughtful, beautifully prepared performances.
The recording on First Hand Records is outstanding. Detailed but warm, allowing all the subtleties Lee conjures with her wonderful tone.
Lee recording American Sketches at Oktaven Audio, Mount Vernon, NY.
This great program is available on Apple Music to stream, and I’m assuming Qobuz in HiRes. Give it a go, then splurge for the CD. Have it in your hand for posterity. The CD sounds better than the streaming, and you’ll hear the full-throated tone of Lee’s 1759 Gagliano violin at its maximum.
Even though the recording was recorded, edited and mastered at 24-bit, 96 kHz resolution (Ryan Streber and Edwin Kenzon Huet), I don’t see the SACD sign on the label. In any case, it sounds very beautiful through my MBL CD/DAC. Buy with confidence. Very highly recommended.
Available at First Hand Records (no financial affiliation).
