Customer Reviews

Gershwin Connection

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dave Grusin has assembled an impressive roster of jazz greats to pay homage to George Gershwin on this stellar collection. Usually with Gershwin the melody istelf is the star, but these interpretations are noteworthy in their own right. An amazing CD.

If you want classical interpretations of Gershwin tunes, then this CD is not for you. If you want to hear really great, fresh jazz interpretations of some of the best music ever written, then grab this right away.

Dave Grusin does a super job with this one. The arrangements as well as the recording quality are A#1! Best CD I have bought in a while.

If you love a Gershwin melody like I do, you can't go wrong with this disc. Great performances by some great jazz players, inventive arrangements, cool sounds. Good choice of songs. These arrangements of George Gershwin's melodies are so good that you forget about the fact that these are all instrumentals, without Ira's lyrics. But you know all the words by heart anyway, and you sing right along.

America's greatest musical arranger Nelson Riddle confided to a friend, (toward the end of his life in 1985) that he would have traded ALL of his hundreds of arrangements (the absolute favorites of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and other musical giants) in exchange for having written just ONE of the hit songs composed by his contemporary Henry Mancini. (`Hank' wrote numerous award-winning melodies, including two consecutive "Best Song" Oscar-winners --- with lyricist Johnny Mercer.)

Well 20 years later, if he were still with us, I believe Nelson Riddle would express that same longing about the music of Dave Grusin - who like Mancini, is an Oscar-nominated, award-winning composer and arranger. Grusin's evergreen "Cinemagic" album recorded in 1991 with the incomparable London Symphony featured 14 of his movie themes including award winners like "On Golden Pond," "Heaven Can Wait," and "It Might be You" -- the love theme from "Tootsie" (with lyrics by the Bergmans, Alan & Marilyn). What is more, Riddle -- who arranged painstakingly at the piano (not his instrument; he was a trombonist) -- would surely have envied Grusin's command of the piano. And Dave's pianistic prowess was never better displayed than here . . . on this splendid tribute to George Gershwin.

----

If I listen long enough to the greatest of jazz pianists (Oscar & Bill) eventually I tire of improvisations (having heard everything in their `bag of tricks' --- their repertoire of favorite phrases) and I find myself craving melody, pure and simple. Or else, thematic variations on strong melody -- `counter melodies' if you will --- which are the personal amusements of all great arrangers including (especially) Nelson Riddle.

I think of Dave Grusin as `spontaneous arranger' (my term) rather than a jazz pianist. And I simply adore off-the-cuff, melodic `variations' of the great pianists/composers/arrangers --- such as Henry Mancini. (Andre Previn is another composer/arranger and accomplished pianist). And, in that stratosphere of `eagles' carried aloft by all three abilities --- Dave Grusin I believe, flies the highest of them all. And the nice thing about this is for all of us? Dave is alive and well and doing his best work these days: He's "one of us" -- he is `happening here-and-now.' And still very much in demand as an arranger.

-----

Most recently, Dave orchestrated a Christmas album for composer/singer/guitarist James Taylor. And I would give that CD a five star review --- if only I could! Alas, this Grusin-arranged treasure was released "only in stores" - belonging to a certain well-known greeting card company, long-famous for Christmas musical/TV specials (and which this year carried a large line of "Polar Express" products).

His new "Christmas Album" is JT's best recording in years --- especially as it showcases Dave Grusin's sparkling arrangements (for large orchestra and chorus). Its many delights are capped by a `retire-the-trophy' version of Frank Loesser's "Baby It's Cold Outside" (a simply delicious duet with Natalie Cole). In addition to arranging the album, Dave provided (as he often does) literate liner notes --- commending Taylor as "an incredible American icon." Taylor returned the compliment, saying: "It was a delight to work (play, really) with Mr. Grusin."

Incidentally, the "James Taylor Christmas Album" culminates with a song previously performed only by Dave Grusin --- as a piano solo on the first of three, "GRP Christmas" (various jazz artists) compilations. The hauntingly beautiful song is, "Some Children See Him" (composed by Wihla Hutson and Alfred Burt, who never wrote another song of note). Grusin's much earlier performance of "Some Children See Him" - plus one other "GRP Christmas" solo effort on the traditional "Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming" (my Mom's favorite carol) are my personal, all-time favorite, solo piano recordings.

------

After those earlier GRP compilations, this album --- "The Gershwin Connection" --- provides listeners with the best Grusin arrangements of great piano music --- superb solos by Dave, small jazz combo arrangements . . . plus lush, and lovely (and huge) orchestral presentations of some of Gershwin's best melodies.

The album opens, incidentally, with a snippet of Gershwin himself --- an amazing player-piano transcription which, through digital technology, conveys in all its shading, the composer's prodigious technique: It is as though Gershwin is in the same room with us today, playing a beautifully engineered concert grand piano. What little there is of it, amounts to a powerhouse performance of Gershwin's obscure, early composition -- "That Certain Feeling." The thrilling energy of his pianistic `stride' fades after less than a minute - replaced by the pure liquid tones of a modern piano (superbly recorded); Grusin, plays a short solo and is supported in the first chorus by clarinet, bass and drums, an enchanting celebration of a lesser-known, but oh-so-beautiful standard -- "Soon." [At the time of this recording (1991) approximately no one had played this song in decades. Recently, Natalie Cole revived it `in style' on her "Ask a Woman Who Knows" CD/DVD.]

Actually, this entire album lives up to the song title `S'wonderful' . . . and the Gershwin tune of that same name, provides this album with the finest, unaccompanied piano performance by anyone in years - a duet, actually, featuring Grusin and jazz great Chick Corea. `Alone together' -- they exchange riffs with such obvious glee and utter abandon, one would think it's the best four-handed piano performance of modern times. (Only duets by Tommy Flanagan and Hank Jones -- arguably the two best piano accompanists of them all --- could rival this.) "S'Wonderful" played here emerges as a melodic / harmonic fountain of jazz brilliance that Gershwin would have loved! Not least for its subtle humor: Five seconds after the song ends, Grusin adds one sardonic `thunk' -- a single, gratuitous, bass note. You can picture Chick and Dave chuckling at the perfection of it all - including that solitary last note!) Other highlights include a pensively beautiful solo by Grusin on "Nice Work If You Can Get It" followed by the best orchestral treatment I have ever heard of two of Gershwin's finest from Porgy & Bess --- "I Loves You Porgy" (and) "Bess, You is My Woman" intertwined as I always imagined they should be. Breathtaking!

-----

A recording like this one provides musicians (those of us who play instruments OTHER than piano) with a vivid reminder of why the keyboard will always be the `king'- especially when, as here, it is played by a musical genius. In the 14 years since this one was released, there've been very few `piano/orchestra' recordings that begin to approach this pinnacle of greatness. So while we wait for another great `spontaneous arranger' to appear - we'll still have Dave Grusin's "latest project" to look forward to. Whatever it is, we may be sure it will be good!

I have been a Gerswhin fan for many, many years, and have several CD compilations of his music. This recording by Dave Grusin, however, is perhaps my favorite. It was actually the first Gershwin collection I purchased (on a cassette tape back in the early 1990s), and I still listen to it so much that I've worn out the tape and two CDs.

Dave Grusin is a true master, and he and the all-star cast of musicians he has assembled on this recording are respectful of Gershwin's music. The creativity of the musicians is astounding. The music flows from them effortlessly, but it all feels well-considered and "tight." Even though there are improvisational stretches in some of the pieces, they fit in to the score so seamlessly that you'd think Gerswhin had placed them there himself.

The final track, "Bess You Is My Woman/I Loves You Porgy" is simply breathtaking. If you buy this CD for no other reason than to hear the final track, it will be worth your money.

I am not familiar with the genius of the Gershwins beyond some Bio - documentary footage and word of mouth. So I would not recognize many of his works. However, I am familiar with the sound of Dave Grusin.....and as happens in his past works.....he delivers....with what has to be called "The Grusin Touch !". His Gershwin translations to modern Jazz interpretations are so exquisite.....they embrace you and take you on a sublime musical journey. Kudos to you Dave Grusin......YOU ARE THE JAZZ MAN !!!!

This musical rendezvous offered by Dave Cruisin surpassed all my previous expectations.
From the first bars of any track randomly elected, you will be immersed immediately in the most sincere and idiomatic surrounding. The arrangements are simply exquisite and every musician was enraptured to his own. John Patitucci confirms why he was on the top of the line in the list of the best bassists of his generation. Eddie Daniels is simply gorgeous in Clarinet in the track Soon. Gary Burton in the vibraphones, singly spectacular. Chick Corea and Dave make an unforgettable duet in ¨S wonderful. The established Chemistry between Eric Marienthal in Alto Saxophone and Sal Márquez Trumpet, is unequalled. Dave Weckl and Sonny Emory are terrific in the drums too. Finally it' s meritorious the collaboration of Lee Ritenour in Our love is here to stay.
There is no hole in any track. But between you and me if you required my opinion about the three best racks of this golden album I would choose I've got plenty of nothing, in first place, Maybe and Fascinating Rhythm.
The idea of open the CD with the same composer playing himself (That certain feeling) was fascinating, it is like to relive to Gershwin and imagining him smiling and happy with this homage of a group of friends.
I beg you earnestly to acquire this supreme tribute to George Gershwin and if you are a classic music lover - as I do - , the petition would be double.
Recommended without reserves. The best Smooth Jazz album of 1991. And the sound is simply out of this world. GRP made a superb mastering effort.

There are many tributes albums devoted to GERSHWIN.Should you choose only one,DAVE GRUSIN's certainly won't disapoint you.It starts with a ragtime version of THAT CERTAIN FEELING that gently fades out,and ends up with a beautifully orchestrated medley of numbers from PORGY AND BESS.My personnal favorite is I GOT PLENTY OF NUTTIN'with it's change of tempo that really clicks.Listen to that cd at least twice to get you hooked.Grade A for an inspired project.

Amazon has provided me with a top-class service once again! As an arranger, the amazing ideas present in this CD could be studied for a lifetime! The quality of the CD was excellent and I received it promptly. Yay!

If you don't have this CD - buy it! The arrangements and performances are spectacular, and how could you go wrong when you combine those with Gershwin for source material?! "Fascinating Rhythm" by itself would be worth the cost of the CD; and it's only one of many specacular cuts.