Music Reviews

Amazingly BIG sound from five people


The Pacific Quintet, players from all over the world, make a joyful noise, presenting music from their home countries of Japan, Honduras, South Korea, Germany and Ukraine/Turkey.  No, it doesn’t sound like world music as much as it seems like…just music. In fact, as a salute to Leonard Bernstein the last three pieces are arrangements of songs from West Side Story!  

Listen to the first of a medley of Japanese folk Songs, Hanaichimonme (track 12).  It starts out like an Irish Jig, and then develops a Bum pa da da rhythm that reminds me of some good ol’ Italian songs.  It’s great!

But I am a sucker for those West Side Story tunes—  Maria (track 22) is a sheer delight.

Surprising music from five excellent players!

Written by

Bill Dodd

Bill is Senior Music Reviewer at NativeDSD. He lives in the Portland, Oregon area. He is an avid photographer too! Along with his early interest in broadcasting and high fidelity audio, he was exposed to classical music in small doses from age 5, was given piano lessons from age 9— Starting with Bach and including Gershwin. Successful morning personality in San Francisco at age 22. (true). Sang in choirs in high school and college. Although the broadcasting experience was all in popular music, his personal listening has been mostly classical his whole life—along with others including Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Joni Mitchell, The Who, and Led Zeppelin.

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