Hristo Vitchev & Weber Iago – The Secrets of an Angel (2009)
Artist : Hristo Vitchev & Weber Iago
Album : The Secrets of an Angel
Released Date : November, 2009
Label : First Orbit Sounds Music
Everybody can play music, but not everyone has something new to say. Some artists can never be satisfied not only by playing well but also by feeling pushed for giving their contribution to music, based on their fresh ideas and creativities. With the unlimited ideas flying over their mind, they can do nothing but being productive, and at the same time keep exploring the music universally. We are always happy to see this. We always welcome them and their creative minds that sometimes can be so powerful to change the music path. In such a case, we have Hristo Vitchev. Together with Weber Iago, he just released his brand new album called “The Secrets of an Angel” this November.
Following “Song For Messambria” released just a couple of months ago as a debut album, Vitchev shows his productivity and endless creativity with his brand new album. Unlike the first one in which he delivers sets of 10 stunning compositions with a quartet formation, this time Vitchev offers his new ideas in duo. Think of this, just a guitar and a piano. One would wonder what they could get out of these two instruments. But seriously, you should listen to this to know that actually a combination of two instruments like this could grab your senses better than when listening to a full set of band. The minimum set of two will let you focus on the melody and feel the concept, even the journey Vitchev and Iago brings.
Vitchev doesn’t need an orchestra to deliver his ideas. He only needs a guitar and a piano to send the message, and I would say the message sent perfectly. 8 new compositions are packed in a stunning album, tributing the impressionism side of music that will bring you to an unforgettable imaginative adventure. This is a fascinating album that offers something different. Not just music, but it’s a melodious journey with tales and quests packed inside. It’s an art at its best. It’s poetic, and they superbly telling us through the lovely collaboration between the sound of guitar and piano. Vitchev chooses the minimum set to bring us the new experience. It was a very smart move, because through this minimum formation we actually could focus on the concept they want to tell us.
Hristo Vitchev is a modish impressionist guitarist and superb composer from Bulgaria. He started his music career ever since he was still 12. He went to get a formal education at the Roland Music Academy in Venezuela and then moved to San Fransisco Bay Area in 1998, in which he started to build his career professionally. He has performed in many places around the world with many different formations. Not only act as a playing musician, Hristo is also productive in making more and more original composition. Today he has made more than 200 compositions, including the recent one included in this album. Vitchev doesn’t stop there. He also has a big concern of jazz education and development. He has written many articles on jazz improvisation and a chordal theory/construction book for guitarist, “Between The Voicings: A New Approach to Chord Building for Guitarists”. He is a multitalented man not only in music, but also in painting. Both cover of his albums were made by his own. As you may see, the album cover looks very artistic in impressionism, just like the music he makes and plays.
Now let’s see who Weber Iago is. Listen to him and you’ll know this man is different. He is the man on the mission, bringing music in its true form, which is much bigger and wider than the segmented or boxed genres. With him, melody flows like a river beautifully. All along the two CDs where he contributed, I found his style inspired by different forms. Jazz, New Age, Brazilian and Classical, all these forms are often blended perfectly, creating the signature artistic touch on the piano, Iago style. Just like Vitchev, Iago is also a composer and arranger. Both of them are superb jazz impressionists that always love to explore the most artistic side of it.
Weber Ribeiro Drummond, the original name of Weber Iago came from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and moved to Monterey Peninsula, a place where he resides until now. He has performed many times at the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival and many other festivals all over the globe. From a concert pianist he went on exploring the impressionistic jazz. No matter what he plays, it always sounds so artistic, never too difficult to enjoy even when he delivers complex compositions. For Iago, music has no boundary. As he is also inspired by countless sources of music around the world, Iago presents his music sincerely without thinking much about the genres. It’s not what the music should be “called”, but what important is what it really “is”.
The same vision brings these two brilliant musicians together, creating the most beautiful impressionistic art of music. As the result, “The Secrets of an Angel” appears to be a sensational CD that will definitely take your breath away. It’s one of the most intimate moments between guitar and piano you’ll ever found. This album was made by pure chance of experimenting guitar and piano arrangement while they were recording “Song for Messambria”. The last song from it, “It Follows” was made by this experiment and suggested the hint for this brand new album. Hristo told us that he wrote all the material only in about two weeks, and then Iago joined him for one session to arrange the songs. “It was a special experience and I think the music speaks for itself.” Vitchev said. And it really does.
8 stunning compositions appears in a truly art. The album starts with “Waltz by Chance Alone”. This is a really fine landscaping 3/4 signature composition presented in quite fast tempo. This song will give you the first impression of what you’ll have throughout the album, very melodic, stunning improvisation, great collaboration in harmony, and presenting waltz with the nice blending of jazz, classical and new age. “Zima’s Poem” is the next. This is the song captures all the memories of Vitchev from the cold winter in Bulgaria. As the title suggests, this song is poetic. “Sitting by the window and watching the snow fall gently at the reflection of the street lights”, he said, by having the memories flowing slowly in his mind. Listen to this song with your eyes closed, you’ll find your mind wondering freely in the most beautiful way in no time.
Lovely intro by Iago mimicking the sound of the raindrops is the start of the next song, “When It Rains”. This song is inspired by the beauty of nature. Unlike many songs about rain that usually sound mellow and romantic; Hristo sees the rain more like the rhythmic dance of raindrops descending from the skies. This is lively song that will make you feel want to dance in the rain. “Haiuri’s Dance” is the song picturing a god from the African Mythology. Haiuri is described as a half god, with one arm, one leg, half a face and so on, and also responsible to bring you to the underworld once you meet your final moment. Still, whoever encounters him will have a half chance to get away from the fatal fate, because he’s only one half anyway. I can’t help to make this song as one of the most special composition in the album, especially with the added flavor of wordless vocal sung by Iago. It is not only the feeling of world-music presented but also delivers nicely in the tradition of Ivan Lins‘ wordless vocal on Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour 1985′s “Harlequin”.
The title track is next. “The Secrets of an Angel” appears as a graceful composition. This song was inspired by all the secrets we discover day by day in our lives which give meaning and understanding to our deepest emotions. Sometimes we can’t help but feel like our greatest discoveries in some ways suggested and told by the angels watching from above. And Vitchev brilliantly captures that moment in a breathtaking sets of melody. Then come a very special musical adventure in two parts, “The Last Pirate.” The first one, subtitled “Amazonian Tales” was made as a tribute to Weber Iago. By his friends, Iago often referred as “The Amazonian”, simply because of his unique hand-movements giving out unbelievable harmonies on the piano. At the same time, the music also resembles an Amazonian tribal dance that has the movements of a snake in the jungle. Either way, the music is adventurous. You’ll go on a special quest once you listen to it. Part 2 “The Treasure of Carmel” describes the treasure Carmel area in California. This is the place where Iago spends his life for almost 20 years. A very landscapic composition is delivered in this one as the continuation of the first part. The wildlife, cultures, religion and historic landmarks found in Carmel are now captured in the loveliest musical form. Some stunning wordless vocal by Iago again appears in it. If you want to have an imaginative journey, listen to both part and enjoy your moment. “Leka Nosht”, in Bulgarian means “Good Night” is the last song found in the album. Following the style of the previous album entitled “It Follows”,”Leka Nosht” also comes in a very smooth way, just like a feather that will land in your heart softly. It’s a lullaby song that will give you a good night sleep and sweet dream right after the great journey you’ve traveled through the whole album.
“The Secrets of an Angel” presents some of the most intimate moment between two instruments, guitar and piano. Through the hands of two artistic and impressionist musicians with the same vision, the combination between these instruments found the best nuances and textures. Hristo Vitchev got a tale to be told, and he tells us throughout the graceful conversation with Weber Iago. You’ll find the best moment of music listening through the album. Stunning jazz improvisation, the best scene of new age, some classical music and Brazilian music will give you new perception in listening music. From harmonic landscapes, heart-warming melodies, melancholic ballads to world-inspired music and exotic texture, “The Secret of an Angel” is ready to bring you to the ever changing universe of jazz-improvised music. Challenge yourself to enter the journey of a lifetime, as Vitchev and Iago have invited you.
Tracklisting:
1. Waltz by Chance Alone (7:21)
2. Zima’s Poem (8:14)
3. When It Rains (6:53)
4. Haiuri’s Dance (6:13)
5. The Secrets of an Angel (8:21)
6. The Last Pirate Part I – Amazonian Tales (6:50)
7. The Last Pirate Part II – The Treasure of Carmel (6:48)
8. Leka Nosht (Good Night) (6:55)
Buy Hristo Vitchev & Weber Iago – The Secrets of an Angel from CDBaby.com or directly from Hristo Vitchev’s official website
For more info, log on to:
- Hristo Vitchev’s official website and myspace,
- Weber Iago’s official myspace
Reviewed by: Riandy Kurniawan
Special thanks to :
Alhenri Wijaya
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