R E V I E W S & COMMENTS:

"Cellist extraordinaire" -Eugene Weekly

"haunting and evocative" Seattle Weekly

"...hypnotic music" -The Oregonian (Marty Hughley)

"somber, ethereal tones" -The Post Star

"Local cellist Adam Hurst is a tough one to pin down. At times, his songs are ethereal and dramatic, perfectly suited for a movie soundtrack or the backdrop to a rainy day. Other times, he incorporates drones that are reminiscent of the late '70s New York avant-garde scene. Mix those two with some world influences (gypsy and Middle Eastern, primarily), plus some serious chops, and there's no telling what Hurst can do with a cello. His latest offering, "Ruin", finds him throwing some piano into the mix, which gives the songs a ridiculously somber and melancholy tone. But then again, with songs like "Death Waltz," "Alone," and "Face in the Rain," would you expect anything different? RS" -The Portland Mercury

"Though Adam Hurst's primary instrument is cello, his third and fourth releases show him to be an equally adept guitarist and pianist. On Dwelling and Ruin respectively, Hurst also proves himself to be a deft multi-tracker who records guitar and piano as base instruments over which his sinuous cello playing resounds. The two recordings are structurally similar with Hurst's preferred mode short, three- to four-minute classical settings of largely ruminative, sometimes ethereal character with all of the music composed by Hurst. He's no avant-garde provocateur hell-bent on extending the cello's sonic limits but instead an artist intent on bringing music of soul and romance into being.

On Dwelling's thirteen cello-and-guitar “poems,” Hurst alternates pieces pairing cello and acoustic guitar with others featuring multi-tracked guitars only. The prevailing mood is reflective and ruminative, though subtle contrasts emerge from one song to the next. “The Beyond” might be described as a dramatic Spanish guitar drone, while a faint country feel infuses the folk meditation “A Moment,” and a faint hint of Ry Cooder even seems to emerge too. The cello's singing tone comes to the fore in “Dwelling” whereas “In-Between” highlights the melismatic character of the instrument's cry.

The newer release Ruin follows Dwelling's lead with the obvious exception of the change in instrumentation. Again a melancholy spirit prevails (titles alone like “Alone” and “Face in the Rain” suggest as much, while “Death Waltz” is naturally somber) and Hurst largely opts for slow tempos throughout. The cello-piano combination is not only more contrasting than cello-guitar but the piano's cascades and arpeggios offer a richer and often lilting backdrop to the cello. Needless to say, Hurst 's cello playing on both recordings is beautiful—inflamed with emotion and passion but not overwrought (the cello melodies in “Exit” even exude a Byzantine quality that calls to mind John Tavener). Similarly, despite being melancholic in temperament, his elegant compositions are pretty but not saccharine."
-Textura July 2008 Textura.org

"The masterful Adam Hurst bring works of crystalline beauty that can be appreciated in five minutes or savored for hours" -Someday Lounge

"...soundtrack to a dream voyage..." -St. Johns Sentinel Full Review

"...poetic music" -NW Professional Dance Project

"Thank you for playing your music, it certainly makes the world a more beautiful place!" -Emily K.B.W.

"Gorgeous... just what my soul needed!" -Amy C.

"Amazing, ethereal, you hit the God spot!" -Shelly P.K.

"along with being a phenomenal cello player, you have mastered the arabian style of guitar. Adam Hurst is an icon and deserves to be globally recognized." -Andraous

"Magical, seductive sound!" -M.M.

"Adam is well worth seeing, and his CD is well worth buying!" -A.B. Arts

"Wonderful, stunning... fantastic music!" -D. A.

"Your music is mysterious and evocative, the soundtrack to my life!" -Joseph P.

"Believe me...hearing the music of Mr. Hurst is is one thing...but hearing it in person is truly an experience. Art comes in many forms and Adam Hurst is one you'll never forget!" -Broken Soviet

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