I Am Not

Janus is the Brooklyn-based trio of flutist Amanda Baker, violist Beth Meyers, and harpist Nuiko Wadden. Their debut album, I Am Not, brings together six pieces, all by New York City composers, that defy common expectations for this familiar grouping. It opens with the voices of Amanda, Beth, and Nuiko, set against a gently pulsing background in Jason Treuting's title composition, and proceeds through kaleidosopic scores by Caleb Burhans, Angélica Negrón, Anna Clyne, Cameron Britt and Ryan Brown, all tailored to the virtuosity and interpretive élan of these three gifted players. The electrifying and revelatory results challenge the listener at every turn: as the group flits effortlessly between genres, it conjures a soundworld that is un-tethered yet consistent, classic yet definitively 21st-century. Electronic samples, banjo, and found instruments make their way into the musical fabric. Recorded and produced by Lawson White, I Am Not envelops the listener with warm, yet precise and highly present sonics.