Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara – Liama & If I Could Reach Your Heart – Single(s) Review

“Flawless execution. Mellow gold. Utterly pleasing to the sonic palette. A unique and artistic twist…” “…a melodic plane of ambient sound.”

Praise we gave to the flutist duo of Steve Markoff and Patricia Lazzara for, Timeless, their instrumental cover album of eighteen popular radio songs, including iconic hits such as: The Carpenters’s We’ve Only Just Begun, Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight, Carole King’s So Far Away, The Beatles’ Yesterday, Natalie Merchant’s Verdi Cries, and more.

This album—which was effectively designed to bring flute music to an audience that ordinarily would not be listening to it—has done well on the World Indie Music Charts, Euro Indie Music charts and DRT Charts, effectively sealing Lazzara and Markoff’s spot as both classical, and indie-crossover artists. In essence, the album makes flute music cool to those who may have never even considered it.

Now, in preparation to release their next collaborative album, Romances In Blue, this talented New Jersey-based duo has released the two lead-off singles, Liama, and, If I Could Reach Your Heart, once again in collaboration with the talented Allison Brewster Franzetti playing the vital accompaniment on piano.

HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…

Opening with the stirring and reverent, Liama, this composition is originally the background music from the Cirque du Soliel high-wire show, La Nouba. A gentle piano intro lays the groundwork for our duo, and there’s something very intimate about this track as we can hear the breath of the performers, and the light tap of the keys, making the experience that much more palpable. As the beautifully melancholy melody proceeds, the most wonderful moments are when Patricia and Steve harmonize note for note, then drift away, playing different—but the same, only to find each other once again. It’s truly a dance as it was originally purposed.

Collaborating over the internet due to the COVID19 situation, the beautiful and lovely, If I Could Reach Your Heart, was experimentally recorded using an iPhone app. Originally another Cirque du Soliel composition from the show, KA, this rendition has a very light and airy sort of fairy-tale feel. The patient relationship shared by these two flutes and piano is a soft and inspiring reminder of the importance of solace, breath, and rest to the human spirit.

IN CONCLUSION…
The ultimate gentle. Tender and bright. A culmination of pure and soft spirit. Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara’s latest collaborative singles, Liama, and, If I Could Reach Your Heart, prove that some professional relationships consist of more than the flesh and blood of which they are made. There is something otherworldly about their ability to create resonant song and melody, as if they both came into the world with experience from other lives. What’s more, the music itself brings a necessary calming force during a time that is anything but. We eagerly anticipate the forthcoming album, Romances In Blue. In the meantime, check out Liama, and, If I Could Reach Your Heart, as well as our interview with Patricia & Steve, below.

BELOW: Listen to Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara’s new music, check out our interview with them, and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support Steve Markoff & Patricia Lazzara by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!