Contemporary Reviews

This category is for reviews of contemporary art and music.

At the OZ Arts Website:

Burdens from a Distance

Carrying burdens: a universally accepted part of life and timely theme as the world shares a collective burden. Over the course of three years, speaking to hundreds of people from all walks of life, Jana Harper discovered the same underlying concerns we all share: “our loved ones, our futures, our planet, and of course, our health.” This Holding was created from the exploration of these burdens, portraying this portion of the human experience in a raw, beautiful, and thought-provoking way. During a period when many feel more alone than ever in their lives, Harper holds a fitting sentiment about her Read More

Oz Arts Presents:

Ronald K. Brown’s Evidence: Grace, Mercy, and The Equality of Night and Day: First Glimpse

In my past work for Music City Review I have written about only music, whether it is a CD release or a live concert. That sort of work is in Read More

From New Focus Recordings

Eric Nathan’s ‘Missing Words’ Speaks When Language Fails Us

On January 21st, 2022, New York-born composer Eric Nathan released an album anthology of his six works titled Missing Words. Each composition consists of multiple movements, all with titles derived Read More

New from OEHMS Classics

Thomalla and Clover’s ‘Dark Spring’: Will You Listen?

In all honesty, I received the assignment to review this opera in late September. That’s when I should have listened, but I didn’t. Life got in the way. Would it Read More

Jeremy Smith: “The Call”

Composer Jeremy Smith has just come out with his first foray into the operatic genre with The Call, a short drama that takes inspiration from Albert Camus’ novel The Fall.Read More

At Oz Arts Nashville

Sloppy Bonnie: Goofy Fun at OZ Arts.

The latest COVID-era production from OZ Arts Nashville, a company who has been kept amazingly busy during this hateful pandemic, is playwright Krista Knight’s Sloppy Bonnie. Billed as a “roadkill Read More

At Oz Arts Nashville

Prism: A Performance Installation Experience

Running through next weekend at OZ Arts Nashville is David Flores’ new work, Prism, which is “…a performance installation experience created for a physically distanced world.” At times comforting and Read More

New from Westerlies Records:

Theo Bleckmann and The Westerlies’ ‘This Land’

In the seemingly relentless movements of resistance and public outcry in recent years, one can be quickly overwhelmed by the moment and wonder if it will ever end. However, from Read More

Nashville Opera

One Vote Won: A Streaming Must-See

Ask anyone from six months ago what they’d be doing right about now, and I’m sure it would be far different from what we’re pulling off now. For musicians, composers,Read More

Live Music in Nashville

Nashville Composer Collective at Asaph’s Chamber

This past Sunday afternoon (September 20th) the Nashville Composer Collective (NCC) put on their 22nd program in Belmont University’s intimate Asaph’s Chamber. Chairs were spread out out throughout the space Read More

From Navona Records:

Liza Stepanova’s ‘E Pluribus Unum’

Pianist Liza Stepanova’s August 28th release E Pluribus Unum on Navona Records is described on her website as “Born out of the political climate of 2017” and “an artistic response Read More