Flutist Jill Felber has a well-deserved reputation for fostering new works and giving them polished, exquisite performances. The six pieces on this disc were either written for or commissioned by her, and her skills are showcased in all of them. Felber's lustrous tone is most evident in the lowest register, but extends into higher reaches and is sustained in passages where speed and precision might be expected to diminish it. This is not to say she smooths over occasional aggressive outbursts, yet the mood of this collection is one of calm mystery, which perfectly suits Felber's control and beautiful timbre. Mark Phillips' Rain Dance is an adventurous beginning, where the composer blends the flute with water sounds and other exciting, drenching effects. This is complemented by
Jeremy Haladyna's En la Estera del Chilam Bilam, which utilizes key clicks, vocalizations, and flutter tonguing to create an exotic ambience. Rounding out the experimental works is Bernardo Feldman's Onirica, a fascinating tour de force of nightmarish, hallucinatory sounds.
William Kraft's Cadeau and Zelman Bokser's In a State, both for flute and piano, are more conventional, yet attractive, offerings. Speira, by JoAnn Kuchera-Morin, is an angular, abstract meditation that serves as the disc's reflective center.