Customer Reviews

Americana

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Leila Josefowicz has shown us, through her previous recordings, that she can play all the "heavies" of the violin repertoire with the best of them. Now she's back, with a catchy, fun recording of jazzy American showpieces. Don't let the cover of the cd fool you into thinking this is a pop princess album, it's not. True, the pieces on here are not heavy, they're purely fun, but she still pulls them off with the same flair and panache as she does in her more serious albums. As Leila states in the liner notes, this album WILL bring a smile to your face! Go out and buy this recording--it's wonderful to listen to when your spirits need a lift.

I have enjoyed most of Leila Josefowicz's recordings very much, but this is my favorite. The songs are mostly in a style more or less like rag-time, and they are a lot of fun besides being impressive.
The most amazing piece on this disc is the delightful Yankee Doodle Variations by Vieuxtemps. A fun and virtuosic set of, you guessed right, variations on the song Yankee Doodle. Her perfomence on this piece in particular makes it worth the cost of the entire disc.
Ms. Josefowicz's technique is flawless and her tone is gorgeous. The accompaniment equally good, and the recording quality leaves little to be desired.

Ms. Josefowicz has created an amazing recording. Her style is incredibly spirited and one can tell she is having great fun with the music. These are pieces familiar to many and yet her performance leaves one feeling they are hearing them for the first time. She is to be commended for producing and replicating the enthusiasm of the American musical tradition. The Gershwin pieces are masterpieces in their own right. I would love to see her produce a Gershwin recording. I think you will find yourself listening many times to this amaizing recording.

....with so many gorgeous girls who play the violin so beautifully...I first noticed Leila's albums because she shares the same unusual first name with my wife. [Arabic name, though neither girl is]. And ONE of the Leilas can REALLY play the fiddle.....

This is an album of old, familiar, encore pieces, with John Novacek on the piano. It is 63' of pure joy. These aren't heavy, intellectual, numbers, and Leila doesn't treat them that way. Not that they're easy; far from it...Perlman's arrangements of Scott Joplin require ALL of any violinist's skill. Several of Heifetz' arrangements are included...the Gershwin pieces, "Deep River", and "Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair" really stay in your ear....and the "Porgy and Bess Suite" is worth the price of the record.

Leila MAY be the most gorgeous violinist ever [I said the same about Sarah Chang; my hero Thomas Jefferson was inconsistent, too]. One thing for sure; you'll love this album...the girl is fabulous. Promise.

THIS CD IS A LOT OF FUN! IF YOU LIKE MELODIES...AND SUPER VIOLIN VIRTUOSITY, THIS IS ONE TO BUY! boland7214@aol.