Joseph Benzola‘s latest recording has been on my sound system since November, getting regular run throughs and repeated plays galore. It was released on his Amanita Music imprint at the end of last year. I’ve been living with it for a while now, so I thought I’d share some thoughts on it with you as my ALBUM OF THE MONTH.

“First Meditation” opens things with a foreboding cinematic feel. Slow dense chords, light counter stabs, musical fog, aural ice, and minor movements that creep like a dark Sunday dawn. Reminds me of a Keith Jarrett in it’s sonic sensibilities and contemplative modal build up. An ominous opening salvo.

“Second Meditation” is a bright playful Paul Bley honky-tonk romp. There’s moments when you hear a New Orleans stride line about to come rolling out, only to be stopped mid-note by loose ended minors coupled with unfettered joyous notes. Did I mention that this album needs to be played LOUD? Yeah.

“Third Meditation” takes things deeper into the free zone. Utilizing pentatonic Zhi and Yu forms, it sways in bright and dark percussive passages. I hear prepared piano, temple bells, dulcimer, possibly a stringed instrument or two densely layered throughout the proceedings. Fascinating contrast to the previous pieces.

“Fourth Meditation” springs forth with sporadic voicings layered through slight ostinatos and punchy euphony. Joseph’s use of building harmonic motifs woven around studious lines makes this one special among the five pieces for it’s scope and largeness. I hear Henry Cowell in some of these works, set in a more modernist style.

“Fifth Mediation” ends this séance with righteous rhythm. Ancient skins, ritual cymbals, and berimbau notes fly through the air, spilling archetypes and paradigms all over the room. It’s pulsing reverberant swirling kling-klang coupled with humming triplets and stabs. And then it suddenly leaves the room as fast as it entered. The definitive ending.

This project was inspired by the stained glass windows at The Church of St. Therese of Lisieux in Montauk, New York. These recordings certainly live up to the spiritual grandiosity of that beautiful building. As with everything I write about, this recording is Highly Recommended…link below.

https://josephbenzola.bandcamp.com/album/stained-glass-meditation