Customer Reviews

Across The Crystal Sea - Conducted and Arranged by Claus Ogerman

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First of all, I'm surprised that nobody has written a review for this album yet. Boy, when you hear it you'll want to own it, let me just get that out of the way.

Danilo Perez is, for those unaware of him, a jazz pianist that has played with way too many jazz greats to list here, but he's paid his dues and has established himself as an intelligent, passionate pianist. He also has that certain Latin feel to some of his lines, which helps to get things cooking.

Here is the lineup for this record:

Danilo Perez - Piano
Christian McBride - Bass
Lewis Nash - Drum
Luis Quintero - Percussion
Cassandra Wilson - Vocal (on two tracks)

All arrangements by Claus Ogerman who's arranging talents can be heard from the late, great Bill Evans, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Diana Krall, amongst others. He does a brilliant job with the string sections, which once you hear them you'll see why he's one of the best arrangers out there today.

The music on this recording is pure musical bliss. Anyone interested in jazz piano trio with string arrangements then look no further. Pick this one up today!

What a great recording! When I got this, a couple of months ago when it first came out, I almost cried when I played it. It was so like another favorite of mine, the Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra recording. Finally. Danilo's playing and Ogerman's arranging/conducting are superb. This is not to be missed. And if you like this you may also want to pick up The Gary McFarland Orchestra with Special Guest Soloist: Bill Evans, Bill Evans: Symbiosis with Eddie Gomez, Claus Ogerman - Two Concertos, Gary McFarland's soundtrack to The Eye of the Devil, and Gary McFarland with Steve Kuhn on October Suite. Great music!

My review for this record is simple : MARVELOUS, TOUCHING...There is no weakness, everything is so well balanced, the piano, the orchestra, the voice and of course the arrangements of a real craftsman for many years, Claus Ogerman is a bliss for every musiclover. More of those records and you forget your daily sorrows, believe me.

I have to differ with most of reviewers here. I have just bought this CD. I am a pro jazz composer and arranger, and pianist and classical and jazz music educator. Ogerman has been one of my "teachers" (from listening to and analyzing his arrangements and orchestrations) for a long time. I own both the recording of "Symbiosis" and the full score written by Claus. Quite unfortunately, Danilo Perez *is not* Bill Evans (well, no one could actually be) and is to far away from even getting near him. And Ogerman's orchestrations and arrangements are very, very cheesy, excrutiatingly soft, and mostly Xeroxed from lots of his other previous writings. Danilo is a good performer, but...he does not move me a hair!. His playing is so guts-lacking that sometimes you cannot even understand what he is saying. However, the worst in this recording is Cassandra Wilson: She has lost the very little portion of "voice" she somewhat managed to own at some point (many years ago). She is mostly out of tune, with a trembling and insecure voice with poor diction.
If you really want to know what a jazz soloist with a Symphony sounds like, get right now "Symphonica", with soloist Joe Lovano (tenor sax) playing his own tunes arranged, orchestrated and conducted by superb Mike Abene, with a jazz big-band within a symphonic orchestra. You can also try Stan Gets and Michel Legrand Orchestra, Clark Terry playing ballads with Peter Herbolzheimer conducting his arrangements and orchestrations for full orchestra. And, finally, get *any* (or yet, better, all of them) Jazz and the Symphony saga by Lalo Schifrin and you have real symphonic music there. Otherwise, I will rather listen to Ravel's symphony concerts, Gershwin's, Rachmaninoff's a thousand times more that "Across the Crystal Sea".

I've loved Claus forever and was not aware of this release. I was working on my computer, and Claus popped into my head. When I got home, I pulled out my guitar, arranged for patio amplification, and cued up Gate of Dreams on my outdoor sound system. I then attempted to solo over Claus's astounding arrangements. Of course it is very difficult as you would expect with the fabulous and innovative chord progressions utilized by this maestro. But I took my best shot, hit some lucky licks here and there, failed miserably elsewhere, and finished up in awe of this once-in-a-lifetime composer, as usual, even after all these years.

Then I was on the computer later and discovered this release. I was amazed and overjoyed at the opportunity to listen to new material, and immediately ordered the album. I ordered the download version because I could not wait, but I will of course also order the CD for the sound quality. There is no artist alive who can have as much of my money as he wants, anytime, anyplace, without reservation or hesitation.

While I read the other reviews, I of course could really care less. There are some talents that transcend the judgments of lesser others by virtue of their innate and inalienable brilliance. Claus is one of those very few talents in the music industry. Art Tatum and Sarah Vaughan are 2 others. Babe Ruth in baseball. Ayn Rand in philosophy. Secretariat in horse racing. You get the idea.

I downloaded the album and have been listening to it more or less continuously for the past week. While I could effuse and rack my brain trying to craft strings of superlatives to describe the album, I won't bother. It's Claus. You know what you are going to get. It is going to move you and satisfy you. It is going to inspire and confirm, as it always does with Claus. He does things with an orchestra that no one else can, he is an innovator and even his cliches never wear out their welcome as they do with so many others.

Bravo and thanks Claus. Keep it coming!!!

An absolutely marvelous album. Rather than all of the comparisons, let me just say this.
I've been a big Jazz fan since my mid-teens and this "Cat" rates up there with the best.

The choice of music is also exceptional. Oh, those smooth arrangements.

All of this and Cassandra too! Don't miss "All Of A Sudden My Heart Sings"

Go buy it & dig it!!

Keep Smilin',

Curt
aka [...]

The first time I heard Across The Crystal Sea, it invoked a feeling of a far-away, distant land, with haunting and sultry rhythms. I continue to play the CD over and over in my car and on my laptop. I highly recommend this album as a great stress reliever or for those moments when you want to turn down the lights and groove with someone.

Could not ask for a more relaxing set of cuts. The music puts you into a peaceful state of mind. Highly recommend this cd.

This CD has a special magic of growing on me the more i immerse myself in it's spaciousness. With every play I feel more and more profundity from the musicians. Very personal investment of feeling and experience is invested in the flavor, pace, and dynamics of these pieces.

Danilo is a tremendous musician and he is very deliberate here on what he is NOT playing to allow the music to breathe masterfully with the master stroke of Claus and tell his stories. No grand standing here, just thoughtful and soulful expression on a personal level. This guys have nothing to prove. Even Danilo's choice of Cassandra on the two cuts feels purposeful with her low register and low profile delivery as if she is part of the sound texture used to create the mood. 'Nuff said. You would have to be an android not to be moved by this recording in some way.

Well, i only gave it 3 stars because i have only heard clips( i haven't bought it yet) but whati heard blew me away! i just hope the rest doesn't turn into bland,rambling watch the paint dry music. After all we need to hear real music,honest interpretations and observations...and,ok, i'll buy it.