Tosca
Amado
Hats off to Glover Gill. Not only is he one of the more technically and emotionally mature keyboardists in Austin, now Amado clearly confirms he’s a damn fine writer as well, penning eight of 10 gorgeous tracks on Tosca’s second release. The two remaining tunes are worthy as well; “Tango para una Francesa,” the sole vocal track, was written and sung a Français by the honey tenor of Robert Ashker Kraft. The other, “Primavera Porteña,” was crafted by none other than the luminary Tango master Astor Piazzolla. The classically trained Tosca ensemble — violinists Leigh Mahoney and Lara Hicks, violist Ames Asbell, cellist Sara Nelson, bassist Erik Grostic, pianist Jeanine Attaway, and Gill on accordion — seamlessly mixes European chamber music with the lovely cadence of South American tango. Amado opens with two short works, the delightfully accelerated ostinato of “El Cholulo,” and the piano/bass spun “Otoño.” Guest clarinetist Ben Saffer adds a moving appearance on the seven-minute joyride “Ballade Three: E B G,” where the entire group plays together as gracefully as a symphony of floating autumn leaves. Better still, the subtle nature of the compositions breathe and live within the one-mike-in-the-room intimate recording aesthetic. Chapeau à eux!
This article appears in December 3 • 1999.