Adam Khan : A Day in November : CD

M.D. PUJOL: Preludio Rockero ; Preludio Triston ; Tristango En Vos ; Curdo Tangueada; Candombe en Mi : DYENS : Saudades No3; Danse; Fete et Final : BROUWER: A Day in November ; Etude Simples 1 – 10 ; Guajirra Criolla ; Zapateo; Cancion de Cuna ; Paisaje Cubano con Tristeza; Parabola.

Adam Khan

CDBY : ‎ B000A9QL90

Argentinian guitarist/Composer Maximo Diego Pujol is a well – known guitarist who has written many fine works for the guitar which do show the influence of Ástor Piazzolla and similarly use the tango as a basic style, and these first five pieces on the album are varied and constantly interesting, with a few moments of musical crunches to get your attention, as at the opening of Preludio Rockero, and many highly individual sections that really do not sound like anyone else and although they are obviously difficult to master, Adam Khan has no trouble at all whatsoever. This is a great start to the recording!

For his next composer Khan picks the legendary and much missed Roland Dyens a man whose music was effervescent , so original it sometimes shocked you, and immensely difficult to play for the most part, and having some years ago heard the man play a concert , I can only say that he was a fabulous player , who never seemed to put a finger wrong! The opening Saudades No3 , leads into the Danse a very exciting piece that then links seamlessly with the third and last track by Dyens the Fete et Final, all of which just go to show the listener what a wonderful writer for our instrument he was. Adam Khan, whilst showing just how vibrant and original they all are, has no difficulty in giving them a superb performance.

The final composer is Leo Brouwer, another well – loved writer and performer who writes in a number of quite different styles, from the folk influenced, to the atonal, to the Latin and so you often never know what you might be getting until you see/ hear it. After the title track of the CD the Etudes Simples enter, and which for example, are easier than a lot of his works. Here Adam plays the first 10 of what is actually a set of 20 studies in total. All of them are utterly different from each other and very cleverly written whilst tasking the player somewhat! The Guajirra Criolla reverts back to the folk/ latin style for most of it, whilst the Zapateo is full of crunches that get your attention. The Cancion de Cuna is a lovely melodic piece that is simply a lovely piece of writing with a great melody and set of harmonies. Paisaje Cubano con Tristeza (Cuban Landscape with Sadness ) is subtle, and quite mysterious sounding , and one wonders which particular landscape Brouwer is writing about , if indeed it is a particular one. Equally strange is the final piece Parabola, which has many moments that you do not expect. Brouwer does appear to be musically painting a picture here, and so the album finishes with a sort of question mark, that leaves you wanting more!

So this CD is in essence a set of great performances of wonderful composers’ music, all of which will surprise the listener for its individuality and enjoyment factor. Not only that the recording quality is top class, as is Adam Khan’s playing!

Chris Dumigan