Harlan Silverman

This week sees an impressive companion piece to the indispensable Cosmic Tones Research Trio record from last year. If the spiritual jazz meets New Age of the band’s last couple of records hit all the right buttons, then the patient peace of the band’s Harlan Silverman’s Music For Stillness will come as a pleasant addition to the turntable. While it isn’t as rooted in the rhythms that slip in from Roman Norfleet or the keys of Kennedy Vernett, on his own Silverman brings the same sense of tranquility that permeates much of their last record. Music For Stillness is draped in his Flute, Cello, and Viola. Feeling more akin to the pastoral tones of Japanese folk music and the more recent waves of ambient that have caught hold of the Leaving Records roster, the album is true to it’s title, evoking an an anchor in still waters.

While the record has roots in New Age, it’s got a more organic feel to it. More wind and water and less yoga studio sit-in. Though, hell if that’s what you need, it’ll work that angle. There’s a sense of leaf-filtered light in Harlan’s music, a beacon to hold onto in ever-darkening days. Sometimes there’s a need for a reset, a re-centering, and on Music For Stillness Silverman provides a moment to reflect. At twenty-seven minutes the record certainly doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. While the short runtime might feel scant to some, for the purposes of calibrating the brain and finding strength, it’s a perfect slice of Stillness. The new record finds the members of the band expanding their home at Mississippi, and I’m definitely here to see them find the edges of their form.

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