Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is an instrumental portrayal of the crucifixion that includes a reading of the passages from the book of Matthew that Yelena Eckemoff depicted in her music. Contemporary, with strong roots in classical music, this album is a deeply personal interpretation of the Biblical account of Jesus’ last days, death, and resurrection. Ms. Eckemoff sought to convey the emotional and physical experiences of Jesus and those who were the closest to him, so much of the music is very dark and painful. Eckemoff combines acoustic piano with keyboards and synthesizers, creating an interesting and unusual effect. She did all of the performances herself, and the album has a very big, symphonic sound. The last fifteen minutes of the recording is a reading of Matthew 27-28 by Larry Van Horn, which seems a little long for a recording intended to be listened to repeatedly. Personally, I think the narration would be more effective right before the pieces the readings correspond with. This is what Eckemoff did with her earlier “The Birth of Emmanuel,” so I’m not sure why she changed the format. The musical styles range from contemporary classical to jazz and even has some rock influence. The variety makes the album play like a soundtrack, which, basically, it is, and the complexity of the compositions creates an intellectual as well as an emotional challenge for the listener. This is a very serious piece of art, and would not work well as dinner or massage music. Since the album was conceived as a whole, discussing its individual pieces doesn’t really seem appropriate for a review. Overall, the music is masterful and almost overwhelmingly emotional. With her extensive training at the Moscow Conservatory, Yelena Eckemoff brings a strong and unique voice to the world of contemporary instrumental music. Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is available from www.yelenamusic.com and amazon.com.