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Editorial Reviews
The extraordinary decade-long collaboration of jazz virtuoso James Carter and classical composer Roberto Sierra comes to a thrilling culmination with the release on May 17 of their first recording, Caribbean Rhapsody. Sierra's Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra, composed for Carter and premiered in Detroit in 2002, is the centerpiece of the new Emarcy CD; a new Sierra composition, "Caribbean Rhapsody," which features Carter, his musical cousin Regina Carter on violin, and string quintet, is a gorgeous companion piece. Two solo interludes on tenor and soprano saxophones respectively were composed by Carter in response to themes and elements in both of Sierra's works.
"What immediately struck me was that he played with total command and mastery of the instrument," says Sierra, a professor of composition at Cornell University. "James is the Paganini of the saxophone. He and the instrument are one. To me that was amazing, right from the start."
The concerto was recorded in Warsaw with the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra, conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero (music director of the Nashville Symphony). Carter was joined by violinist Regina Carter along with cellist Akua Dixon's string quintet for the recording of "Caribbean Rhapsody" in New York. Michael Cuscuna produced the new album; Wulf Müller and Cynthia B. Herbst served as executive producers.
The Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra was commissioned for James Carter by the saxophonist's hometown Detroit Symphony Orchestra. It was premiered by the DSO and its music director, Neeme Jarvi, in October 2002 and reprised by them the following year. "There are no real precedents for the concerto," Sierra says. "To me it was clear I could not look at the past, I had to imagine something and do it."
For Carter, the premiere was just the beginning of an ongoing process exploring the emotional nuances and melodic contours of Sierra's breathtakingly intricate work. "It proves to be a very delicate yet strong balance of written music, improvisation, and the cadenzas," says Carter, 42. "They're strategically placed, especially the one that always challenges me as to which way to go
as far as improv is concerned--the end of the third movement segueing into the fourth and the finale. It's like an atonal boogie-woogie. Blues is always a place you have to come home to, so it was a very fitting ending." For "Caribbean Rhapsody," Sierra draws on memories of his growing up in Puerto Rico and the music he heard on jukeboxes in cafetines--from the sensuous opening bolero to the Latin riffs reminiscent of son montuno. He was "curious to see the combination of James and Regina improvising together and also on two different instruments--the sax, basically from the jazz tradition, and the violin, the quintessential orchestral instrument. And of course I had the ideal players." The CD's producer Michael Cuscuna calls it "contemporary classical music of the highest order."
An artist long intrigued by contrasts and hybrids, Carter resists comfortable categorization. "You have to be totally comfortable wherever," he says. "I think there's tremendous beauty in cross-pollinations of music and influences."
Caribbean Rhapsody is Carter's 13th album and his second for Emarcy Records. Present Tense (2008) which featured trumpeter Dwight Adams, bassist James Genus, drummer Victor Lewis, and pianist D.D. Jackson, was described in a four-star Rolling Stone review as "Presidential Carter: soulfulness and technique in perfect balance."
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
James Carter offers something for everyone in this jazz/classical CD
May 22, 2011
Format:Audio CD
Article first published as Music Review: James Carter - Caribbean Rhapsody on Blogcritics.
Caribbean Rhapsody from Emarcy records features saxophone virtuoso James Carter. The recording is the culmination of a decade long collaboration between the jazz giant and classical composer, Robert Sierra. The music is written in a modern style, with jazz elements of improvisation combined with Latin heritage and classical genres.
Two works are showcased on the CD. The first is Roberto Sierra's Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra, recorded in Warsaw with the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra, conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero. James Carter solos on soprano and tenor saxophones. Carter calls the composition a "delicate yet strong balance of written music, improvisation and the cadenzas." Bright orchestration, syncopation and strong accents open the concerto. A plaintive saxophone melody intervenes. Percussive effects from orchestra and tenor sax lead into a kind of atonal bluesy boogie woogie in the third movement. A free improvisation on tenor saxophone, complete with slap-tonguing, squealing and a soulful, masculine feel leads us into the title track, Caribbean Rhapsody.
The second composition, Caribbean Rhapsody, also composed by Sierra, is a joyful chamber piece with alternating reflective and spirited music. It bounces from the sensuous opening bolero to Latin riffs to music he heard on jukeboxes from cafes he frequented in Puerto Rico. Sierra wrote the piece as a musical reunion for saxophonist Carter and his cousin, violinist, Regina Carter. The juxtaposition of saxophone and violin, viola, cello and bass is a refreshingly new hybrid of musical elements. The CD ends with another improvised interlude played on soprano saxophone by James Carter with a tender female quality complete with buzzing, trills, turns, extensive florid sections and a fade into musical eternity conclusion.
Jazz virtuoso, James Carter, an instinctual player, explores every sound his heart and saxophone can generate. He defies comfortable categorization and is fascinated with cross-pollination of musical idioms. Regina Carter's career has spanned classical, jazz and African folk idioms. She was awarded the MacArthur Fellowship (often termed `the genius grant").
Carter and Sienna astound with their melding talents. Sienna becomes a musical appendage for James Carter's musical dreams. One of his greatest challenges was integrating Carter's improvisational passages into his written score. His orchestration is masterful. Together they create an unforgettable CD, a beautiful cross-pollination of musical taste and genres.
Caribbean Rhapsody is Carter's 13th album and his second for Emarcy Records. Don't miss this unique romp through complimentary yet distinct musical styles.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
Caribbean Rhapsody from Emarcy records features saxophone virtuoso James Carter. The recording is the culmination of a decade long collaboration between the jazz giant and classical composer, Robert Sierra. The music is written in a modern style, with jazz elements of improvisation combined with Latin heritage and classical genres.
Two works are showcased on the CD. The first is Roberto Sierra's Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra, recorded in Warsaw with the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra, conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero. James Carter solos on soprano and tenor saxophones. Carter calls the composition a "delicate yet strong balance of written music, improvisation and the cadenzas." Bright orchestration, syncopation and strong accents open the concerto. A plaintive saxophone melody intervenes. Percussive effects from orchestra and tenor sax lead into a kind of atonal bluesy boogie woogie in the third movement. A free improvisation on tenor saxophone, complete with slap-tonguing, squealing and a soulful, masculine feel leads us into the title track, Caribbean Rhapsody.
The second composition, Caribbean Rhapsody, also composed by Sierra, is a joyful chamber piece with alternating reflective and spirited music. It bounces from the sensuous opening bolero to Latin riffs to music he heard on jukeboxes from cafes he frequented in Puerto Rico. Sierra wrote the piece as a musical reunion for saxophonist Carter and his cousin, violinist, Regina Carter. The juxtaposition of saxophone and violin, viola, cello and bass is a refreshingly new hybrid of musical elements. The CD ends with another improvised interlude played on soprano saxophone by James Carter with a tender female quality complete with buzzing, trills, turns, extensive florid sections and a fade into musical eternity conclusion.
Jazz virtuoso, James Carter, an instinctual player, explores every sound his heart and saxophone can generate. He defies comfortable categorization and is fascinated with cross-pollination of musical idioms. Regina Carter's career has spanned classical, jazz and African folk idioms. She was awarded the MacArthur Fellowship (often termed `the genius grant").
Carter and Sienna astound with their melding talents. Sienna becomes a musical appendage for James Carter's musical dreams. One of his greatest challenges was integrating Carter's improvisational passages into his written score. His orchestration is masterful. Together they create an unforgettable CD, a beautiful cross-pollination of musical taste and genres.
Caribbean Rhapsody is Carter's 13th album and his second for Emarcy Records. Don't miss this unique romp through complimentary yet distinct musical styles.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love the quality of the product particularly the artistry and sound. The Concerto is beautiful with all the nuances of classical and jazz music doing a tango. The music is artfully peppered with the brilliant technical prowess of James Carter. This music speaks to the far-reaching range of James Carter's gift. James Carter plays it all with regards to styles of jazz. This Concerto brilliantly demonstrates how James Carter a.k.a. "The Sax God" brings a symphony orchestra & a string quintet into his kingdom and makes heavenly music. This CD is a must-listen!
3 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Molefe
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is one of Carter's finest work but not meant for easy listening. One needs to be in a movie magic mode to appreciate the picture being painted by the blend of Carter's hard but sweet blow with the orchestra.
