Never Final, Never Gone

ALL MUSIC GUIDE
“Beck’s concern for communication and naturally evolved dramatic form … is apparent from the start … [of] Never Final, Never Gone. … The Toccata from the Four Piano Pieces is … spirited and attractive [and] … immediately imparts a feeling of warmth and familiarity; the remaining piano pieces are either expressive or rhythmically dynamic, and are played with care and enthusiasm by pianist Heather Coltman. Kopeyia [for percussion ensemble] is a joyous din of spicy rhythm[;] … [i]t takes a certain amount of skill to write something for a formal ensemble that comes out sounding informal, and this is what Beck has achieved.” [FULL ARTICLE]
—David N. Lewis

MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL
“American composer Jeremy Beck … was committed to tonality and a recognizable musical vernacular long before that became the hip bandwagon it is today. … [Beck is] an original voice celebrating music. Without self-consciousness, without paralyzing abstraction, Beck reminds us that music is movement, physically and emotionally. … The disc leads off with a fine performance of a string quartet titled ‘Shadows & Light.’ The first movement digs into an energizing strum not unlike the cutting-edge repertory typically played by the Kronos Quartet or even Ethel, the amplified quartet, though Beck’s piece is all acoustic. The second movement of the work … starts with slow, intense music[.] … The buildup of tension breaks into a syncopated presto, … [but the slow music] keep[s] undercutting the faster music, with which it struggles and intertwines[.] … With wrenching power, the [opening] hymn pulls the music into a remote, peaceful ending. … [V]itally enjoyable, … Beck’s music is well worth hearing and Innova deserves thanks for putting another relevant voice in front of the public eye.” [FULL ARTICLE]
—Mark Sebastian Jordan