by Carol Wright
Birds of Paradise by concert harpist and spiritual composer Georgia Kelly is a sensual and mystical album with music so real you can almost smell the rain. "Rainbow Showers" begins with the thundering of the harp as the drops seem to delicately reflect the sun's rays. The melody is quite moving, and the glissandi make the water sparkle. The theme of "Primavera" is more operatic, a delicate aria to the love of life. Flutist Richard Hardy joins Kelly on the title cut. The central theme is as sentimental as an Irish lament; their variations take it to both soul-stirring depths and acrobatic heights. Their helical dance, in which there is no follower or leader, is seductively heady. Some skillful engineering (remember this is 1980) allows for extension of Hardy's tones and even a flute duet. This pioneering album is rich in emotion and spiritual integrity. A classic.