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Janoska Ensemble end the Troy Chromatics 122nd season with a pleasant, playful blending of styles and plenty of musicianship / Albany Times Union

The Troy Chromatics ended its 122nd season with something on the lighter side of the classical music spectrum. The four-member Janoska Ensemble improvised on themes from the masters as well as American pop standards plus folk songs of their native Slovakia. It was a pleasant diversion with a playful blending of styles and plenty of impressive musicianship. But even with all those elements, things started to sound the same.

Deutsche Grammophon has recently released its second album of Janoska, which is now based in Vienna. The members – two violinists, a bassist and a pianist – are all family members, representing the sixth generation of musicians in their line. A seventh generation is on the way, as one of the selections was dedicated to a little boy named Amadeus. The son of one of the players, he's hardly more than a toddler but said to be already proficient in piano and violin.

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