It is often said that the cello seems like an extension of the human body; the intimate, resonant pairing melds the two into a larger instrument. It is said too that the cello ‘sings’ when played well. In this album, however, it becomes an even larger whole and enters the realm of speech and language, melody and narrative. In the hands (and vocal cords) of Bryan Hayslett, the cello-human bond takes on new dimensions.

Cello Unlocked is a foray into the synthesis of language and melody, blurring the lines between speech and music in new ways. The album is a bold declaration of the instrument’s – and the player’s – versatility, extending beyond classical boundaries into the realms where music and language converge. From pieces that involve the cellist singing to transcriptions that transform spoken word into melodic lines, each work delves into the inherent musicality of language and the rhythmic underpinnings of speech.

Each composer was chosen for their unique ability to interpret text through the cello. From Pulitzer-Prize winner Caroline Shaw to avant-garde vocal legend Joan La Barbara, the album’s seven composers put the vocalizing cellist through his paces. From Thomas Tallis and a Venezuelan folk song, fantasies inspired by Alan Lomax recordings, a musing on domestic abuse, and a chili recipe, the subjects cover a lot of ground.