Mark Abel - 4.4.2 (Various Artists)

Information

Composer: Mark Abel

• As the World Turns
• Samantha Sketches
• Symbiotica
• A Door Opens

Simone McIntosh, mezzo-soprano / Michael McMahon piano

Alice K. Dade, flute & piccolo / Ieva Jokubaviciute piano

Jennifer Choi, violin / Mark Abel, organ

Jonah Kim, cello / Keisuke Nakagoshi, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Delos

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A longtime collaborator with Delos, composer Mark Abel releases his seventh album on the label, aptly titled 4.4.2. The recording presents the world premiere of four works written for two performers, blending vocal and chamber music into a compelling exploration of Abel’s expansive musical language. The album highlights his distinctive voice in contemporary American composition, brought to life by an exceptional roster of internationally acclaimed artists. Featured performers include mezzo-soprano Simone McIntosh, flutist Alice K. Dade, violinist Jennifer Choi, cellist Jonah Kim, pianists Michael McMahon, Ieva Jokubaviciute, and Keisuke Nakagoshi, with Abel himself appearing on organ, further affirming his reputation as a master of inventive contemporary music.

Mark Abel (b. 1948) is an American composer based in Northern California whose distinctive voice bridges classical, rock, and jazz traditions. After early years as a rock musician and a two-decade career as foreign editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, he returned to composition, emerging as a prominent figure on the Delos label in 2012. His seven releases for Delos—including The Dream Gallery, Terrain of the Heart, Home Is a Harbor, Time and Distance, The Cave of Wondrous Voice, Spectrum, and the 2026 album 4.4.2—highlight his gift for melody and his range from art song to opera and chamber music. Abel has collaborated with leading artists and set poetry by Rilke, Neruda, and others, while increasingly earning recognition for his own emotionally resonant texts.