Maya Beiser, Ambient Orchestra
Bowie Cello Symphonic, Blackstar
Islandia Music
David Bowie passed away four years ago, a few days after the release of his final album, Blackstar. The album picked up a couple of posthumous Grammys, but Bowie might have appreciated Maya Beiser’s tribute even more. Cellist and composer Beiser has been described as “avant garde,” making her a perfect interpreter for the work of Bowie, himself an artistic adventurer and innovator. This album is a track for track “reimagining,” and it’s amazing to hear how finely a cello can evoke Bowie’s distinctive, often hypnotic, voice and style, while never lapsing into imitation. Think of it as Bowie Distilled.