Customer Reviews

Bolling: Suite No. 2 for flute & jazz piano trio

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I stand in awe of Claude Bolling's amazingly inventive musical talents. Not only does he compose the most astonishing music--a delicious cross of classical structure and jazz loosey-gooseyness--but he gets folks like flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal, guitarist Alexandre Lagoya, bassist Pierre-Yves Sorin, and many others to join him in recording these pieces. On "Suite for Flute & Jazz Piano Trio No. 2," Bolling is up to his usual high-jinks, which is to say he's in fine form.

"Amoureuse" is a lush ballad, opening with contemplative piano work by Bolling and gradually adding in Rampal's impeccable flute. It's a song you'd want to be kissed to if you were starring in a romantic film. "Entr'Amis" is a saucy, sassy prance of a song, flute and piano winking at each other throughout. "Vagabonde" opens with the most gorgeous fuguelike piano work--it sounds as though J. S. Bach might have composed it after a stein or two of good German beer. "Intime" is a pretty, quiet little song with an in-joke of a title (it means "intimate" in French, but you could also read it as a clue to the pace of it, as in the instruments staying "in time" with each other). "Jazzy" is a vigorous cartwheel of a song with a frenetic pace--it's positively dazzling. Highly recommended!

With this, the second in a series of jazz-classical fusion collections, Bolling has reached new heights. Every single piece is refreshingly original - no repeats are duds in this collection.

The style and expression are both freer and more intense - indeed this seems more "musical" in many ways. Once again it is almost impossible to select a "favorite" although JAZZY and AMOURESE are two that stand out. The sound is sheer perfection but it is the inventive aspect of the series that makes this collection shine.

I had this tape years ago and loved it! I hear the music from it on all kinds of shows as background music. It's really upbeat and fun.

It's "dangerous" for me to check out what's available at [...]. I discovered this 2nd volume of Bolling's Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio by accident. Had to have it as I played the First Suite many years ago.
If you're not familiar with Bolling's style, try him.

The second suite is just as good as the first. My piano teacher got the music about 10 years ago. Jazzy, Entr'amis, and Espiegle are my favorites.

Bolling is so very good. When I first heard his music some 20 plus years ago I was hooked and still am.

Bolling, Rampal, and friends pick up where they left off from their first amazing recording. All in all a great listening experience from an outstanding light jazz ensemble.

Probably Bolling's most consistently good album, in that there is not a single weak track, and the talent he collected for this is unsurpassed. Rampal seems to perfectly understand Bolling's style of carefully sculpted, structured jazz, and knows how to complement it perfectly. Acoustically the flute/piano combo is the most balanced of all the small combos Bolling has assembled -- it just works better than combining the piano with a single guitar or horn.

For my classical music friends who "don't get jazz", I usually recommend this album first -- and I've made more than one convert by means of it. It's also a great way to introduce young children to jazz, who are apt to quickly fall in love with Rampal's flute. Or for anyone who finds the looser, more intense Jazz artists to be overbearing, you could well start with this album by Bolling and Rampal.

The CD arrived very quickly, and in absolutely pristine condition (and this was for a USED CD)! I wouldn't hesitate to order from this vendor again. Thank you,

Carol :>

I used to think that Freshaire II had the most romantic themes until I hear "Sentimentale". It is such an wonderful, emotional theme to dance to. It would make a perfect pas-de-deux for a wedding.