Musical Massage: Balance

Cellist David Darling, well known for his poetry/cello CD, The Tao of Cello, enlists a group of fine musicians here for an introspective album whose 18-minute compositions slowly unfold in circular rhythms and pensive grooves. It's an utterly successful ensemble, with John Marshall on drums and percussion and Darius Kauffman on flutes and whistles. Pieces where acoustic instruments such as guitar and flute are the centerpiece work better here. "Dream Pearls of Kathak" is a chamber work whose contemplative expressionism unwinds like a river, with sparse instrumentation steadily giving way to more complexity and sound. The low booming drum of "Irish Miles" is enough to center any stressed soul, and along with Darling's signature moody cello leads the ensemble in a grounding, beautiful melody. This is the sort of CD that's just melancholy enough for rainy days and soothing enough for yoga or massage. In other words, perfectly Balanced. --Karen K. Hugg