Customer Reviews

Ebony Concerto

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This CD of classical jazz is a winner, with virtuoso performances by John Bruce Yeh.
The rendition of Stravinsky's playful "Ebony Concerto", commissioned by Woody Herman in 1945, is terrific. The 9 short Victor Babin pieces are a delight, and the Bernstein selections a blast...colorful and rambunctious, with echoes of "West Side Story".

I love Morton Gould, and "Derivations" should explain why. He's a master of interweaving rhythms, among other things. He's one of America's greats, and I wish his music was more widely performed, and recorded...it deserves to be heard.

The biggest treasure on this CD comes at the end, with Artie Shaw's "Concerto for Clarinet". A "Big Band" gem that was never published but fortunately tracked down by Mr. Yeh (he explains how in the back of the booklet insert). It overflows with joy, and there are some passages with a Hebraic melody that stir the emotions.

The jazz ensemble of musicians (tracks 13-20) are outstanding...the brass section a knock-out. I must mention Bob Rummage on drums, and Easley Blackwood on piano...both are stupendous.
If you like the clarinet, you're going to love this unique and marvelous CD.

When a musician interprets a wellknown piece of music in such a way that you must confess that you hear the music as for the first time than there is something going on. The Ebony Concerto by Igor Stravinsky, commissioned and first played by Woody Herman's jazz orchestra, has had many interpreters, but John Bruce Yeh is one of the best. He uses the clarinet, being a rather nasal sounding instrument, as if it were a voice. Morton Gould's Derivations for Clarinet and Band are a revelation to me, this is more than minimal jazz, it even seems to be a new artform. Of course, the recording by Reference Recordings is superb and the music does wonders for you if you are in the possession of decent Hi-fi-equipment.

Superb sound quality.
You can listen this CD in one breath. It's very interesting and dynamic, even if you don't like jazz you will love this recording.