(2020) Scott Cossu - Memories of Water and Light


Review:
A more eloquent example of New Age music than Memories of Water and Light would be hard to conceive. This sixteenth release by Scott Cossu, who’s been recording since 1978, features ten of his compositions performed by the pianist with Van Manakas, his guitarist of thirty-three years, and cellist Holly Reeves. In expressing gratitude for family and friends, many of them alive but some recently departed, Cossu’s heartfelt music communicates humble appreciation for the fleeting time we each have on the planet and the memories we carry with us. In drawing inspiration from those around him, the Olympia, WA-based Cossu in turn inspires listeners with harmonious music designed to instill peace and positivity. That he was one of the first artists to join Windham Hill and was a part of it for nineteen years (before it was sold to Sony) should give some idea of Cossu’s style. Memories of Water and Light is his second release on Heart Dance Records, which, with its focus on spirit-replenishing sounds, makes it a natural fit for his material. Emblematic of the recording’s uplifting tone is “Wedding Lanterns,” which Cossu wrote for his daughter’s wedding. Affection pours forth from every note of the stately piece, the composer leading with elegant pianisms and his partners enhancing it with embellishments true to the spirit of the material. Elsewhere, “Luminoso” stands out for the subtle blues-tinged quality that emanates from the performance, and the album turns plaintive for “Ascending Angels,” a piece Cossu wrote to memorialize those who’ve passed on. Manakas even works a few Spanish-inflected moments into “Lucid Watercolors,” while Reeves graces the piece with some of her most vocal-like expressions. Aside from the lyrical compositions, the album’s major selling-point is the interplay between the trio, which is at a consistently high level. The rapport shared by them makes listening to the album an all the more rewarding experience. In some moments the players engage in a communal dance, whereas others find two pairing for unison statements and the third soloing alongside them. While the virtuosity of Reeves and Manakas is evident throughout, their playing never crosses over into self-indulgence when Cossu’s compositions are so tightly woven. Space is provided for individual expression but not so much that solos extend longer than necessary. There are moments here where one could mistake Memories of Water and Light for an acoustic recording by Pat Metheny and the recently departed Lyle Mays. Listeners familiar with the guitarist’s music will know how pretty his compositions can be, and it’s that quality that suggests the commonality between his music and Cossu’s. There’s also a timeless quality to his compositions that’s strengthened in this context by the acoustic instruments deployed. Adding to the release’s appeal, all of the pieces last no more than three to four minutes at a time, their cases made with dispatch and stated with concision.





Tracklist:
01 - Wedding Lanterns
02 - Memories of Water and Light
03 - Cerulean Eyes
04 - Follow Your Heart
05 - Here with You
06 - Makena
07 - Luminoso
08 - Ascending Angels
09 - Lucid Watercolors
10 - Last Snow


Media Report:
Genre: ambient
Format: FLAC
Format/Info: Free Lossless Audio Codec, 16-bit PCM
Bit rate mode: Variable
Channel(s): 2 channels
Sampling rate: 44.1 KHz
Bit depth: 16 bits