by Jerome Wilson
This is the recorded debut of Dabin Ryu, a pianist and composer from South Korea, who uses several different-sized groups here. Her music has a gentle but forceful sound that comes through even when it is played by a five-horn nonet, as on “The Light.” Elsewhere there is “Moon,” a rippling quintet waltz that flows out of a two-alto sax conversation, “Taxi Driver,” a graceful and uplifting piano trio selection, “Suspicion,” a bit of quick-firing fusion funk and ‘Stillborn,” a dreamy, blues-tinged piano solo. Ryu’s writing on pieces with multiple horns like “Wall (Pt. 2),” “Temple Run” and “We Will Meet Again” is involved but not overly complex. As a pianist she has a firm, lilting touch and as a composer, she comes across as promisingly diverse and imaginative.”
