The Journey & The Labyrinth - The Music Of John Do
Sting
Recorded at St. Luke's Cathedral in London, The Journey and the Labyrinth continues Sting and lute player Edin Karamazov's exploration of the music of John Dowland. The bulk of this material first appeared on 2006's Songs from the Labyrinth. Performed live and placed in a setting concurrent with the life of the 16th-century composer, the songs feel tied to their origins in profound ways. The grand room's ambiance is made apparent with the reverberating applause at the close of each selection. The closing two numbers show how this 400-year-old music has aspects very much in sync with relatively contemporary works. Both Robert Johnson's "Hellhound on My Trail" and Sting's own Police hit "Message in a Bottle" utilize crisply delineated melodies and spare but robust accompaniment. A DVD is included in the set, as well. Elegantly produced, it not only offers the live performance featured on the CD, but also provides Sting's own thoughtfully articulated connections to this still vibrantly romantic music. --David Greenberger
