The brilliant Canadian percussionist Beverley Johnston shines as usual on her seventh solo recording, The Spirit and the Dust’, along with accompanying musician Marc Djokic (violin) and the Amici Chamber Ensemble (Joaquin Valdepañas/clarinet, David Hetherington/cello and Serouj Kradjian/piano). This 67-minute CD is wonderfully recorded and packaged with liberal notes from Centrediscs featuring six contemporary marimba and vibraphone compositions in solos, duos and a quartet, by composers Dinuk Wijeratne, Christos Hatzis, Norbert Palej and Richard Mascall. “The Spirit and the Dust” by Wijeratne is a four-movement marimba solo that opens the CD, in which Johnston’s expressive technique and beautiful touch are evident. The three-movement “Vignettes” by Hatzis features Johnston with Djokic on violin. The exquisiteness with which both musicians perform continues a thread of quality held throughout this outstanding CD.
Johnston is also heard on vibraphone accompanying herself on voice on “ser con Él” by Palej in the outstanding quartet “Parlor Music” by Hatzis with the Amici Chamber Ensemble. Johnston’s sustained brilliance is evident as she moves from marimba to vibraphone with equally impressive technical displays and timbral expression, manifesting a musical experience that captures the attention of the listener is its exuberance.
One of the most surprising pieces on this recording is the Hatzis composition “Phosphorus”, featuring Johnston on marimba accompanied by digital audio that features a DJ mix from her late nephew Cameron Haynes. This piece takes many surprising and successful popular music turns that filled me with wonder as I listened. In the closing marimba and violin duet, “Quantum Hologram” by Mascall, dare I say Beverley Johnston has found her musical souldmate and equal in expressive musical effulgence in violinist Marc Djokic. The virtuosic bond with which these two musicians perform exhibits such a degree of musical excellence that one cannot help but be seduced by their enrapturing sonic mastery.
Johnston is known for her dedication in commissioning percussion works, but her adhesion to contributing outstanding recordings is also worthy of note. The Spirit and the Dust contintues her vibrant percussive legacy.
-Scott Robinson, Percussive Notes, December 2020