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Calgary Herald Review
"The album, which also comes out Oct. 29, begins with Kayas-ayiwan, a haunting mix of piano flourishes and viola/flute lines gently drifting atop a windy backdrop that is meant to evoke “the ancient ones” of McMann’s culture. It’s followed by the multi-movement The River Has Man Ways of Being, which was partially inspired by a story of McMann’s late Cree grandmother. It’s followed by Stories for My People, which McMann composed in 2020 after receiving a grant from Calgary Arts Development and was inspired by Canadian residential schools. The mournful Lament for Small Souls follows, which blends McMann’s traditional Cree/a capella vocals with flute and was written in response to the discovery of unmarked graves of residential school children." - Eric Volmers |
Create A Stir article
"Spanning original compositions for a range of flutes, plus voices, piano, and viola, McMann's compositions are vast and atmospheric, reminiscent of the landscape of her homelands. Prairie Dusk illustrates both a sense of profound loss and the joy of belonging through a multimedia performance that blends music with visual and storytelling components. " |
Eric Volmers' Favourite Albums of 2023
"On Prairie Dusk, classical flautist and composer Jessica McMann offers soundscapes that are both haunting and beautiful. Mesmerizing instrumental flourishes come courtesy of McMann’s delicate playing and the backing of first-rate musicians, including American Navajo pianist Connor Chee and violist Holly Bhattacharya. Meanwhile, Mountain Prairie features a stunning vocal performance by Metis baritone Jonathon Adams. The compositions were informed by McMann’s Cree culture, which is particularly evident on Lament for Small Souls. The stunning composition was inspired by the discovery of unmarked graves of residential schoolchildren and mixes traditional Cree vocals with stirring and ghostly flute lines." - Eric Volmers |