January 26, 2011

"Fans of the New York Festival of Song (NYFOS) enter the events in the calendar as anchor events in their own. Artistic Director Steven Blier and Associate Artistic Director Michael Barrett foster young vocal performers, and glorify vocal music in every form from art songs through popular music—albeit done in fascinating arrangements. The glorious new album, 'Quiet Please,' is a joint venture between the truly gifted and generous Blier and a thrilling vocalist originally from Chicago, Darius de Haas.

Darius de Haas is a consummate musician. This is no surprise considering his parents, bassist Eddie de Haas and singer Geraldine Bey de Haas, who are renowned in their own right. Someone who wants to make a name in the family business needs to differentiate himself and Darius has delighted audiences from his debut in “Kiss of the Spiderwoman” through “Dreamgirls” and in concerts around the world. Whether jazz or standards, his beautiful diction makes this collection of songs something you will want to hear in the car, and very intimately through excellent headphones in moments of quiet contemplation.

This collaboration, apocryphally, was born of an evening among friends spent around a piano. Something special happened and this NYFOS recording was born. Sixteen selections are here, some of which will make their way onto your Valentine playlist in a few weeks. Most are familiar, though Blier’s arrangements and interpolated quotes display a musical genius that shows a very brilliant mind at work.

The duo is even greater than the sum of their parts when performing a song like “Mr. Paganini,” where Blier’s piano is sassy and classy at the same time, while de Haas effortlessly scats like a dragonfly rejoicing, lighting here and there on a lazy summer river. “There’s a Boat That’s Leaving Soon for New York,” from “Porgy and Bess,” is such a great pitch, no one wants to miss it and if you favor crooners, the tender heartfelt treatment these musicians give an oft-heard standard like “I Have Dreamed,” from “The King and I,” is really something beautiful and different. Among my favorites on the album, though, are Adam Guettel’s “Hero and Leander,” from “Myths and Hymns,” that compares a present relationship with the mythological priestess of Aphrodite and her young intrepid lover–a love that must be pursued. The final song, “Migratory V,” is also from “Myths and Hymns,” and seems to quote a folk hymn that segues into a song of togetherness.

by Sherri Rase

This is a perfect choice at a time when our society really needs to come together to bring about the next wave of change. “Quiet Please” is available now at the NYFOS website, www.NYFOS.org., along with many of the Festival’s other recordings. More lasting than roses, this gift sings “love” every time it’s played."