Albums
Release Date: June 22nd, 2018
Label: New Focus Recordings
Produced with GRAMMY-winner guitarist William Coulter, their debut album features premiere recordings of newly commissioned works by six highly accomplished and diverse women composers from around the world: GRAMMY-nominee Clarice Assad, Courtney Bryan, ECM Artist Golfam Khayam, Mary Kouyoumdjian, Gity Razaz, and Gabriella Smith.
STEREOPHILE Review:
"Once you hear the sheer musicality of its premiere recordings of six new works for duo guitar, and how wonderfully they are played, you may be tempted to award the album several more [gold stars]...the depth, variety, and range of colors is astounding... There's a goldmine of ideas and feelings here, whose riches will unveil themselves more and more over time."
AllMusic Review:
"A TRULY PATHBREAKING RECORDING THAT IS GREATLY SATISFYING IN ITS OWN RIGHT."
TEXTURA.org Review:
"Flippin and Mallett, virtuosos who invest their performances with energy and conviction. To claim that the two break new ground in the world of classical guitar music on the hour-long release isn't overselling it"
NEW MUSIC BUFF Review:
"...they even seem to be expanding the very possibilities of a guitar duo...It appears to be a landmark release."
Midwest Record Review:
"A GROUNDBREAKING RECORD...pushing the envelope forward....Heady stuff that opens the ears in fine style."
FEATURED ALBUM: NATIONAL SAWDUST LOG: On The Record 6-22-18
EDITOR'S CHOICE: High Res Audio.com
CLASSICAL MODERN MUSIC Review:
"[they are] talented exponents of the contemporary classical guitar, with technique to spare and an interpretive acumen that serves them well...The result is a sort of state-of-the-art view of what we can understand and appreciate today...It is thoroughgoing, most musical in design."
"DUO NOIRE PLAY WITH STUNNING TECHNIQUE AND DEEP MUSICIANSHIP. The new repertoire on this recording expands the horizons for the classical guitar duo. The pieces traverse various musical landscapes and bend genres into new shapes. The idea of commissioning female composers is wonderful, as they are sadly underrepresented in the classical guitar world. Bravo to Duo Noire for this amazing sonic adventure, working with them is an honor and a joy." - William Coulter, GRAMMY-winning guitarist.
"BOTH THE PIECE AND THE PERFORMANCE ARE INCREDIBLE. It is a really exciting contribution to the repertoire. Congratulations!"
- Marc Teicholz, Professor of Guitar at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. 1st Prize: Guitar Foundation of America Competition.
I CARE IF YOU LISTEN, Where Classical Guitar Meets Minimalism (2014)
"Figments, composed by Raymond Lustig and performed by the virtuosic pair, Duo Noire (Thomas Flippin and Christopher Mallett) is a unique and entrancing album that exists at the unusual intersection of minimalism and impressive classical guitar technique...The impressive technique displayed by Duo Noire is perfectly suited to Lustig's delicious compositions, and you wouldn't regret getting a hold of this; if you like acoustic guitar, bluegrass, minimalism, blues -or music at all- you'll definitely enjoy this excellently produced and mastered album."
