Jonathan Elias - American River (2004)

An involving work that blends reflective instrumentals with a handful of spoken-word essays, American River is an affecting ode to the historical and spiritual undercurrents that flow through America's waterways, and an artful lament that beseeches politicos and corporate chiefs to treat rivers with greater kindness. Released in the same year as Green Day's American Idiot, the Grammy nominee is a gentler manifesto that offers up a similarly persuasive call to reason, directed at those who influence the fate of our rivers.

Pianist/composer Jonathan Elias, with credits in film, television, and advertising, articulates this message as effectively in his 10 instrumentals as in his spoken-word tracks, which feature Johnny Cash (in one of his final studio appearances), Kris Kristofferson, and others. The disc's main co-star, though, is violinist Charlie Bisharat, whose flavorful playing adds crucial texture and richness to each piece. Elias's compositions effectively capture the varied moods of water's movement: the sparkling, pensive, ultimately free-flowing dynamics of "At the Edge" or the vibrant midsummer runoff of "The Great Divide." Yet the key virtue of his music is its ability to blend intelligence and heart, conveying both a modern-art sheen and organic earthiness. The effect brings to mind Philip Glass, Pat Metheny in his As Falls Wichita... period, or Loreena McKennitt if she were to try her hand at Americana. It makes for worthwhile listening, just to discover what's around the next bend. --Terry Wood