The programmatic aspect of this collection is impressive and cleverly executed. The multi-part piece begins and ends with the suitably elegiac "Numb." Figarova plays a simple and somber motif alone on the piano to start the piece, and appropriately subdued horns come in after that. "Emptyness" follows a similarly mournful template, enlightened by a bittersweet flugelhorn solo from Nico Schepers. "Denial" swaggers unsteadily just as the name suggests it should, while "Rage" is full of angry saxophones and warring drums.
Ms. Figarova impresses as both a composer and an instrumentalist. She receives ample and sympathetic support from a band that includes Schepers on trumpet and flugelhorn, Bart Platteau on a variety of flutes, Kurt van Herck on tenor saxophone, Wiru Mathieu on bass and drummer Chris Stirk. The things that happened on September 11, 2001 will probably never make sense, but September Suite does manage to express musically a sense of that experience and is a welcome contribution.
