The three piece Steve Markoff, Patricia Lazzara, and Allison Brewster Franzetti debuted in 2019 with the giant eighteen track opus Timeless – Hits of Love and Hope From Pop, Rock & Soft Rock. It has surprising ambition. These three musicians take on the seemingly improbable task of taking a wide cross-section of popular songs from recent history and revamping them. It isn’t as country music, hard rock, or some other genre you might expect. Instead, the trio translated those familiar songs into an acoustic environment often led by Markoff’s alto flute and Lazzara’s concert flute. They released their sophomore effort Romances in Blue in 2021and their instrumental musings in the depths of a global pandemic confronted themes such as longing, despair, and hope upped the ante.
They appear to be going even further with their new single. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” looks back to the 1980’s and Crowded House’s biggest selling single by far, a global smash burned into the brains of anyone watching MTV in those days. It’s the latest preview of their new album and they continue to follow the path established by their 2019 debut without repeating themselves. The eloquence they bring to bear on this track is otherworldly.
It’s never too lightweight, however. Listeners can’t help but be impressed by the near-lyrical presence they achieve from the beginning and, even more, how its intensity increases at the right places without ever spilling overboard. Franzetti’s piano playing is exquisite. Her capacity for melodic invention never ebbs and she plays as a member of an ensemble rather than ever attempting to crowd out her musical partners.
Many listeners’ focus will fixate on the work between Markoff and Lazzara. Their playing never clutters any passages, and they are keen listeners to one another and Franzetti as well. Anyone who enjoys flute will relish how both flutists emote so freely throughout the track as their obvious technical skill shines through. It is rare with any instrument and they make it sound easy. This points to one of the underrated aspects of this recording.
Any devoted music fan knows some of the greatest talents have the capacity to make hard work and difficult compositions sound like something they’re tossing off the cuff. They never stop doing justice to the performance; this doesn’t mean sloppiness. Anyone paying attention will immediately recognize that “Don’t Dream It’s Over” is the result of planning and many hours, but it never sounds like it.
It is easy to expect that the remaining songs on their album will be as good. Markoff, Lazzara, and Franzetti earned a reputation for high-quality music from their previous releases and nothing about this new single indicates that’s going to change. It is redemptive music, as well, full of sensitivity and light we need at a time when both are in seemingly short supply. If you are familiar with their work, you will love this new song. If you are a newcomer to their music, you won’t regret giving them a chance.
Heather Savage
The music of Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara has been heard all over the world in partnership with the radio plugging services offered by Musik and Film Radio Promotions Division. Learn more https://musikandfilm.com
