Customer Reviews

Bolling: Concerto for Guitar & Jazz Piano Trio

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Alexandre Lagoya and Claude Bolling have combined to produce yet another winner in the long line of Jazz "Suites". Perhaps future musicians will associate the Jazz Suite with Bolling much as we associate the Nocture with Chopin or the Tango with Piazzolla. I was apprehensive over the effect that a guitar could bring to the world of jazz. One usually associates the wind or wood or brass instruments with that genre and I have to admit that the CD has a more "classical" ring to it than the other suites.

That is not a criticism by any means. In a way, this is some of the most inventive music Bolling ever penned. Many of these are idiomatically "guitarish". AFRICAINE touches on several themes - jazz, blues, tango, classical whereas INVENTION sought after Bach (was the name a pun?) This is a more private album, one that benefits from a solitary rather than public listening, perhaps due to the detailed playing that is difficult to grasp in the public social setting.

This is an unbelievable contribution to the polytheon of excellent music. Bolling has merged the two great worlds of classical music and jazz to make for one of the most exciting musical experiences I've ever heard. The first movement alternates between a very Spanish 5/4 dance feel and a laid back jazz/blues feel. The invention movement brings Bach to mind immediately, but the jazz rhythm section behind LaGoya's very traditional melody makes for a completely different feel. The Rhapsodic movement is enchanting and brings Gershin to mind immediately. Bolling not only writes great music in this Concerto, but also uses the music in order to pastiche the great composers in a jazz idiom. He answers the question: What if Bach was a jazz cat? It's an exciting piece with a lot of dimension, a lot of elasticity and a lot of fun. It's well excecuted. LaGoya's guitar work is excellent and Bolling is a monster at the keyboard. This album is a must have. You will probably never hear something quite like Bolling's work. I love this album. Take advantage of this great music, you won't regret it.

This is an outstanding piece of music. The guitar is very spanish in the style of Rodrigez "Concierto d'Aranjuez". It is accompanied by a Jazz Trio, which sometimes swings, sometimes is in a very classical mood. Together they are fantastic. Just buy, listen and swing.

Not an easy task to compose music of jazz and classical genres but Claude Bolling is a genius making it look easy. This is a great piece to perform live and a perfect choice to add to any ensemble repetoire. The rhythm section is tight, loose and flawless at the same time. All the music is written and performed like an chamnber ensemble but sounds and feels like a jazz ensemble. It's the best of both great musical worlds.

I have always loved this album and have been searching for it on cd for a long time. It has great performances and is surprising how natural the instruments blend with each other

I have been a Bolling fan since I discovered his music in the late 80's. It is light, fun and energizing. Always worth the money.

This is wonderful cross-over, jazz/classical album. But the tracks listed are identical to the Bolling album Concerto for Guitar with Angel Romero, et al. Can anyone explain this?

Again and again, Claude Bolling delights the senses with his light-hearted, toe-tapping rhythms,
In no way does the lightness diminish from the seriousness of the music. Great stuff.
Great gifts for people who play the instruments featured on his jazz albums (flute, guitar, cello)

...but not so enjoyable as a marvellous live performance, a recording of which I once saw. It featured the George Shearing Trio and Angel Romero, of the famous guitar family. I have an old cassette recording of it. Perhaps it's the extra frisson of a live performance (and the delightful touch of Shearing's trio dressed in black tie and Romero in the jazzman's polo neck!). Don't get me wrong, this is enjoyable, tuneful music, but to my ears it doesn't quite measure up to its predecessor.

The first recording of this piece I had was a tape featuring George Shearing on piano and Claude Bolling on classical guitar. The tape is not in good condition having been played over and over so I was thrilled to purchase this CD - it is absolutely marvellous.