"American cellist Maya Beiser, a founding member of Bang On A Can, has devoted her considerable gifts -- a warm, gorgeous tone; a flawless technique; and above all, an intense soulfulness -- to the contemporary repertory, and she is responsible for the creation of significant new works for her instrument. Provenance is a tribute to what Beiser describes as the Golden age of Spain, the 9th to the 15th centuries, when the peaceful coexistence of Islam, Jewish, and Christian cultures engendered an especially rich musical tradition. The album includes four works written for Beiser, several of them scored for cello and a variety of traditional instruments as well as voice, and an arrangement by Evan Ziporyn of the Led Zeppelin tune "Kashmir," by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Among the composers are Kayhan Kalhor (Iran), Djivan Gasparian (Armenia), Tamar Muskal (Israel), and Douglas J. Cuomo (U.S.). All of these pieces showcase the committed expressivity and unabashed emotionalism of Beiser's playing. The works create an aura of exoticism (in the use of modes and folk instruments associated with the Near and Middle East), have a solo line that sounds freely improvisatory, and a tone that is most often passionately melancholy. Several tracks feature Beiser alone, but with extensive overdubbing; the Gasparian  uses mostly accompanimental drones, and in the Cuomo, contrapuntal lines create a delicate web of intricately shifting textures. The Kalhor  and Muskal  are evocative, colorful, piercingly emotional ensemble pieces that sound both ancient and freshly imagined. Ziporyn's Led Zeppelin arrangement uses rock drumming, overdubbing, and a processed sound that reflect its musical origins, but it has a distinctive new flavor. Innova's immaculate, vibrant sound is impressively present. The CD should be of interest to fans of virtuoso cello playing, new music, and the fusion of Western classical and world music traditions." --allmusic - http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql;=43:206643~T1Two innovative new releases highlight the course of classical music in the 21st Century: Cortical Songs (Nonclassical) by the duo John Matthias and Nick Ryan and Provenance (Innova) cellist, Maya Beiser's new album. Both albums underscore a growing desire by musicians and composers to avoid confining forms, formats, and labels. Both releases come right up to the classical music line; neither crosses it.Beiser's album is the most recent addition in a line of releases over the years exploring cross cultural musical influences. Beiser can thank Yo Yo Ma and his Silk Road Project for making albums like Provenance viable. Provenance means origins. The album reflects Beiser's origins (she grew up in Israel) and the intertwined origins of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. For the project, Beiser commissioned four new pieces and recorded a cover of Jimmy Plant and Robert Page's Kashmir - Beiser brilliantly carries the song's vocal line with her cello. The album wears well on repeated listening. Part of the reason for this is the homogeneity of sounds, effects, and atmospheres utilized in each piece. Another reason this album wears well is that there are genuinely interesting moments. There is the ear opening arrangement of Kashmir of course, but Tamar Muskal's work Mar de Leche also stands out because of the piece's own origins - a Ladino love song. Sung text opens the piece followed by a variety of interesting rhythms including stumbling pizzicato's and infectious dances. As expected, Beiser's playing is exceptional through out. --The Gathering Note - June 25, 2010