This review originally appeared in American Record Guide
March-April 2021 edition

Shapiro: Arcana
Adam Marks, piano
Innova 041—80 minutes

This disc starts with Spark, an effortlessly flowing, vibrant work for piano. Composer Alex Shapiro mentions in the program notes that Spark "was inspired by the life, energy, and heart of Dale Mara Bershad, a gifted musician who often used her talents to share the joy of expression and wonder with young children", and childlike wonder is certainly here in spades in this work that is at times jubilant, at times morose, and is shockingly beautiful throughout. Shapiro shows her naturalist activism profoundly in Arcana, the album's namesake. Pianist Adam Marks gives this piece a thoughtful, powerful performance here. Arcana is eight movements long and speaks to the relationship that humans have with the earth and that the earth has with humans. Shapiro writes that this piece is mostly told from the perspective of the plant life itself, with "healing herbs as protagonists of a story that begins with a dire warning, and ends with the faith that wisdom and grace shall ultimately triumph". Indeed, the dark and archaic sounds of the first movement, Cradle these Roots, gives way to second movement, Unfurl, that begins in light, continuous eight notes that unrelentingly cascade towards a fervent climax. Movement six, Touch It, is just a minute and a half of catchy, spunky, absolutely delightful syncopation; the type of music you can't help but move along to. The final movement, From Earth to Sky, mirrors the first movement in its use of range and large chordal movement, yet in this case its music whispers of optimism and hope and trust. Sonata for Piano is another favorite here. A pensive first movement whose harmonies are scrumptiously thick is balanced by a second movement whose soliloquizing melodies shine in colors both dark and bright. The final movement clocks in at less than two minutes and is a riotous romp. Marks’ musicianship is in glorious display here: not only is this moto perpetuo executed with utmost crispness, but each layer of voicing can be clearly heard. This disc is a triumph and I highly recommend spending time with the work of these two artists. —Stephanie Ann Boyd