The soundtrack to Charles Lane's modern silent movie features a suitably bouncy and narrative-like mix of jazz, tango, chamber, and old-world dancehall music. Composer Mark Marder composed the 17 highly enjoyable selections here, and shows a deft touch with the manic and descriptive ramblings of silent film accompaniment; he also demonstrates a modern depth that elevates the music well above the carnival world of the proverbial movie palace (his eclecticism is particularly well framed on the stylistically mercurial and wryly titled "Concerto for Piano and Bibliophiles"). Featuring a top-drawer, 14-piece ensemble of strings, brass, reeds, piano, accordion, and a variety of guitars,
Sidewalk Stories is consistently impressive and works quite nicely as a musical program in its own right. ~ Stephen Cook