George Gershwin (1898-1937): An American in Paris (Transcribed for wind quintet by Raaf Hekkema)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, "Moonlight" (Transcribed for wind quintet by Lena Iris Brendel)
David Biedenbender (b. 1984): Refraction
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): Air from Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (Transcribed for wind quintet by Raaf Hekkema)

That little voice in your head that riddles your mind with assumptions and doubts - don't listen to it. When I first glanced at this CD, my little voice immediately jumped to conclusions and told me: "A reed quintet cannot possibly to this music justice. The sound will undoubtedly be all wrong." Well, my little voice was completely off the mark is what my actual voice said as soon as I heard this recording. Fine, the sonic canvas may seem a bit odd at first, especially for the "Moonlight" Sonata, but ...

These five young musicians, Linda Gulyas (clarinet), Viviana Rieke (bass clarinet), Lena Iris Brendel (saxophone), Eloi Enrique Hernández (oboe), and Annika Baum (bassoon), which make up the Sonus Quintett have obviously put much thought and effort behind this project. Each one's individual tone, dynamic control and expressive touches are remarkable, but it's as a group that they really shine. The way they seem to symbiotically interact with each other is impressive. Impeccable timing, accurate accents, letter-perfect dynamic control, and best of all expressive nuances as if they were one single entity.

Add to this flawless transcriptions and arrangements, especially Lena Iris Brendel's own transcription of the Beethoven. On first listen it may not have the sonorous quality of a piano, but it certainly makes up for that in the way that it stretches the keyboard's spectrum and range over the five instruments. Even the sombre mood of its Adagio sostenuto movement comes across very well here. As well, the way they express and project the deep melancholy within Grieg's Air from Holberg Suite is quite engaging.

So once again this reinforces the fact that one should never judge a book by its cover or, immediately dismiss a recording because a little voice said so. Not once have I ever relegated a recording to the "no" pile until I had a chance to give it a listen. And let me tell you that more often than not, I've been pleasantly surprised. This is this ensemble's debut release ... may there be more.