by Stephanie Manning
Already no strangers to Northeast Ohio, Imani Winds are quickly turning last summer’s debut at the Kent Blossom Music Festival into an annual event. For the second year in a row, the wind quintet visited Kent State University’s Ludwig Recital Hall on July 2 to perform on the Festival’s Faculty Concert Series.
Their program, “Grooves and Meditations,” included some familiar names from their 2024 outing, including Paquito D’Rivera and Andy Akiho. But there were also plenty of new additions, like composer Fazıl Say and his piece Alevi Dedeler rakı masasında. The four-movement work is essentially about “old grandpas getting drunk at the bar,” bassoonist Monica Ellis said with a grin.
Interspersing moments of calm with more fluttering, animated ones as the protagonists become increasingly tipsy, Say’s piece often pairs off the low voices (Ellis and hornist Kevin Newton) from the higher ones (flutist Brandon Patrick George, oboist Mekhi Gladden, and clarinetist Mark Dover).
The antics of the grandpas lean heavily on the comedic, yet gruff qualities of the bassoon, which Ellis easily imbued with her trademark character. At every turn, the piece showcased the group’s blend and ability to inhabit each other’s sounds — as did the opening piece of the evening, Valerie Coleman’s Red Clay and Mississippi Delta.
Intermission came a little early when Gladden needed time to sort out some unexpected difficulties with his oboe. But once the program resumed with Paquito D’Rivera’s A Little Cuban Waltz, he delivered a lovely, brief, and groovy solo as the group moved into a triple meter. The title of the piece essentially sums itself up, and towards the end, Dover filled the hall with enough sound as if he was soloing in front of a huge jazz band.
Dover also frequently arranges popular tunes for the ensemble, and this evening’s contribution was Stevie Wonder’s Overjoyed. The smooth melody made its way through each of the instruments before Newton put his horn down and began to sing. His soulful, passionate voice was a real treat — and the excited ovation that followed made it clear this selection would go down as an audience favorite.
The other arrangement of the evening, Simon Shaheen’s Dance Mediterranea, came courtesy of the group’s former horn player, Jeff Scott. Seamlessly combining notated sections with improvisatory ones, this piece sparkles with the danceable energy that Imani does so well. George’s cadenza-like flute solos sparkled, too — especially the opening one, which set a mysterious mood before the atmosphere turned more celebratory.
Those in the audience who were also here for Imani’s performance in 2024 may have recognized Andy Akiho’s BeLoud, BeLoved, BeLonging. While the quintet only performed the latter two movements last time, this year they also added the first movement, “BeLoud,” to complete the set. With its contrast of long lines above the repeated percussive figures, this movement made for a more engaging introduction to the piece.
The contemplative “BeLoved,” underscored by bassoon, segued into the vivacious “BeLonging,” where the quintet really fell into the groove. Will this piece — and the Imani Winds themselves — return once again in 2026? Only time will tell.
Published on ClevelandClassical.com July 17, 2025.
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