Kuniko Plays Reich II

Album review

The percussionist Kuniko's 2012 album Kuniko Plays Reich was a great success, and it may be that only other interesting projects in the meantime have stopped her from recording a sequel. Those wondering whether Steve Reich was down with the idea will note here that Kuniko's arrangements were devised in consultation with the composer, who also contributes general notes about the four pieces. It is hard not to think that percussion adds a fascinating new layer to the music. Kuniko plays it all: marimba, vibraphone, and maracas on Four Organs, and she plays the organ (one) on the latter, to boot. All the interpretations have their intriguing aspects, but Piano Phase, Reich's groundbreaking 1967 work, is arguably the best, with the vibraphone resonances giving the listener the sensation of entering a hall of mirrors or, perhaps, the viewing platform at one of Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Room exhibitions. The Linn label's engineers outdo themselves at the Kanagawa Art Hall in Yokohama with just the right amount of space for the performer. Anyone thinking this is a footnote in the Reich discography would be very wrong.

© James Manheim /TiVo