Label: Self released, 2025

Personnel - Ariel Bart: harmonica; Talia Erdal: cello; Arseny Rykov: piano.

After two albums under her belt, Berlin-based harmonica player Ariel Bart debuts an unusual bass-less, drum-less trio—active for the past three years—with cellist Talia Erdal and pianist Arseny Rykov, narrating heartfelt stories with uncanny musical empathy. In After Silence, she invites us to explore what lies beneath the surface, urging attention to detail and to what’s often hidden.

The title track, “After Silence”, sets the tone as a melancholy opening statement. “Wind From the North” leans on tastefully supportive piano anchored in a relentless odd-metered pulse, with Bart’s solo radiating emotional resonance at every turn. The whole piece carries a mesmerizing poignancy.

Cello and harmonica share parts of the melody on the captivating “Oath”, whose relaxing sonorities flow seamlessly into “Behind Windows”. The latter offers a fine piano solo and mellifluous cello-harmonica unisons. Lyricism abounds here, tinged with gentle romanticism and spiritual significance.

Erdal’s cello cries adorn “Seeds of Change”, in another profound reflection. And by listening to Bart’s solo on “One Warrior”, one can attest she’s a worthy voice in the chromatic harmonica lineage of Toots Thielemans and Gregoire Maret. She plays with striking fluency, supported by Rykov’s elegant comping. “Don’t Forget Us When the War is Over” follows as a plaintive chamber piece delivered with poise and command.

The Ariel Bart Trio crafts a unified sound and mood that extends across the album with intimacy and coherence. Meditative in nature yet rich in feeling, the music resonates with sheer emotion.

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Wind From the North ► 03 - Oath ► 05 - One Warrior