Mindy Meng Wang likens her first full-length collaboration with Paul Grabowsky to a “musical conversation that goes beyond notes.” There’s certainly a chatty intimacy in the exchanges between the guzheng player and the veteran pianist. After collaborating on the opening track of Wang’s 2021 album Phoenix Rising, the two players and composers reunite for this immersive instrumental album. Wang has said it reflects the full range of human emotions, and Between Dreams does tease out a surprising variety of nuanced feelings. “Rain Veil” alternates between mournful reflection and an urgent sense of yearning, while “Held Close” plays like a lullaby shared between loved ones. And “Mountain” adopts a lighter and more playful tone, despite its nearly nine-minute duration. For newcomers to the guzheng, it’s a traditional form of Chinese zither that’s plucked and can resemble the sound of a harp at times. Wang showcases the esoteric instrument’s possibilities here, extending from delicate to forceful while Grabowsky closely joins the flow of those shifting moods. Following her teamups with Tim Shiel and Sui Zhen, and his work with Paul Kelly, Kate Ceberano, and others, this feels like the start of a fruitful new partnership.