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Mike Marshall and Caterina Litchenberg [Digipak]

1. Allegro Assai
2. Cat, the Mouse and the Chicken, The
3. Sonata VI for Two Violins: Andante
4. Sonata VI for Two Violins: Allegro
5. Sonata VI for Two Violins: Largo
6. Sonata VI for Two Violins: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
7. Gankino
8. Assanhado
9. Marziale Allegretto (Duetto II, Op. 98)
10. Santa Morena
11. Dec. 29th
12. Giga
13. Suite Venezolana: Fiesta Criolla (Joropo)
14. Suite Venezolana: Tonada (Andante Appassionato)
15. Suite Venezolana: El Morenito (Cancion de Cuna)
16. Suite Venezolana: Las Marisposas del Bosque (Amoroso)
17. Suite Venezolana: Fiesta Criolla (Reprise)
18. Nao Me Toques
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 1060
Credits

Producer
Engineer Dave Luke; Mike Marshall
Personnel: Mike Marshall (mandocello, mandola, mandolin); Caterina Lichtenberg (mandolin).
Audio Mixers: Dave Luke; Mike Marshall .
Recording information: Gatorland Studios, Oakland, CA (12/2008-03/2009).
Editors: Dave Luke; Mike Marshall .
Photographers: Gary Payne; Phil Goldman ; Alfred Woll.
Here's a project that stands alone on many levels, not the least of which involves the players and their instruments. Caterina Lichtenberg and Mike Marshall have been hailed as top-notch players on the mandolin in their chosen genres of classical and new age styles. In this case, they combine those dialects with some Spanish or Brazilian flavorings on this set of delightful, beautifully turned out, and thoughtful music. There's also a jazz component in the call and response aspect of how they play, while having fun in the process. Lichtenberg and Marshall have adapted violin sonatas by Johann Sebastian Bach and Jean-Marie LeClair, the tip of the iceberg for their unexpected choices. While the five-part "Suite Venezolana" is a magnum opus in terms of depth or variance of tempo, the bouncy "Gankino" is a happy, traditional Bulgarian song, while Marshall's original "Dec. 29th" is, conversely, pensive and near sorrowful. Only a light Latin feel comes into these works, and while the allegro passages are fleet, they are not staggeringly pyrotechnical. Waltz tempos are the most prevalent, and the duo goes into romantic passages, but are not beholden to them. As a unique listening experience, this recording is worth more than one listen to unfold and reveal the layers of craft involved from these outstanding musicians. ~ Michael G. Nastos