Rhapsody Quintet - Café Chantant and Other Salon Delights

Rhapsody Quintet have made a departure on their latest CD, but in style only, the quality remains at the skyward level fans have come to expect from them. This is an act that deserves a lot of credit for tackling a difficult genre in a market that is often less that forgiving. This is even more true when you consider that this latest CD required the quintet to adapt century old tunes to suit their own instrumentation.

Cellist Shimon Walt tells me he hopes this disc would make its way into the soundtrack for garden parties and intimate gatherings. Together with his four fellow musicians he has achieved this goal. This is a CD that cannot be matched for combination of quality and entertainment. Masterfully recorded by Hayward Parrott, every tone of the instruments is clearly heard. There are no wayward sounds on this recording.

An entirely instrumental disc, the most enchanting songs include Hapheem, Spanish Dance No. 1, and Water Nymph. The arrangements on these songs, as well as many others on this project are without fault.

While salon music was written for a time that demanded live performances for silent film and high society parties, Rhapsody Quintet has proven that strong songs and powerful performance are timeless.

Café Chantant  and Other Salon Delights gets 13 out of 14.

back to