By McKinsleigh Smith
With so much music in the Provo music scene, it’s easy to get sucked in and start listening to music in a bubble. It’s always great to see what awaits you in the broader world of sonic textures, and to find new recommendations that can inspire you to make music differently than you did before.
“No Regrets” by Sharon Ruchman and SONORO will definitely broaden the horizons of anyone who gives it a spin. A composition from 2021, it’s sure to resonate with members and fans of Provo’s talented jazz scene (notable local ensembles include BYU’s faculty band Q’d Up, Synthesis, and Jazz Legacy; UVU’s Jazz Orchestra; and the various musicians playing at Fancy Burger in Orem on Friday and Saturday nights).
The song opens with soulful saxophone, softly wailing on 5 isolated pickup notes that breeze by but carry an eternity’s worth of feeling before piano drops in and provides rich harmonic accompaniment. It’s a phenomenal way to start the piece, and it only gets better from there.
Perhaps the most beautiful thing about “No Regrets” is the inclusion of violin. It mournfully underscores the entire piece and wonderfully compliments the saxophone. This interplay between jazz woodwind and classical violin creates a fusion of styles that feels like a true successor to the Romantic era. It’s much better than what we got from 20th century academic composers immersing themselves in alienating (though valuable) atonal textures. Indeed, this almost feels like Chopin at a speakeasy, and I mean that in the best way.
Sharon Ruchman is a gifted composer, and SONORO delivers her work with gusto. It’s a heartfelt performance that is richly cinematic.
If you like what you hear, follow Sharon Ruchman and SONORO on Instagram. You can hear “No Regrets” below.
Provo Music Magazine 