EPIPHANY PROJECT
EPIPHANY PROJECT (Epiphany Records)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

---

John Hodian and Bet Williams have formed Epiphany Project, a unique collaboration that defies categorization. Hodian is a composer and pianist who has written Emmy award-winning film soundtracks, dance pieces, and stage dramas. His musical theatre piece "Sweet Theresiendstadt," produced by En Garde Arts and Theater Archa, ran for a year in Prague before touring to Warsaw and Berlin. Williams has been a mainstay of small club and coffeehouse circuit, and has five solo CDs to her credit. Epiphany Project brings together these two very talented musicians for an experience that's part classical, part traditional folk, and part ambient music. A few of the songs on this self-titled disc are available from the band's website, www.epiphanyrecords.com. The sultry and lilting atmospheric of "Gone" sets the stage for John Hodian and Bet Williams' work that continually pushes the edges of traditional folk, Brian Eno-styled ambience, and classical music. The Scottish-tinged "Lockerbie" is a touching elegy for the victims of Pam Am Flight 103, which exploded over Scotland in 1988, killing 259 people onboard and 11 in Lockerbie, Scotland. "Long Gray Line" highlights Bet Williams' multi-octave voice and John Hodian's piano, who's style reminds of Linford Detweiler or George Winston at the keyboard. Hodian plays all of the instruments on "Goth," which sails on Bet's voice, and with the layered production, the song seems to float effortlessly.

Track List:

Gone * Lockerbie * Jealousy * Walkin' * Long Gray Line * Tubwahun * To the Lighthouse * Mission Bells * Blackbird * Chasing the Moon * Widow's Walk * Goth * Black II * Black I

(To buy go to Epiphany Records's site.)

© 2001 - Eric Steiner