Customer Reviews

Portrait of Silk Thread

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To echo jazzcat@cts.com's review...this record is supreme. There is no question that the compositions themselves are superb, genre-bending (much more so than Gershwin's attempts, albeit from the opposite direction!) and timeless (as are most of Strayhorn's finest), and the interpretations and performance of the Dutch Jazz Orchestra are equally superb and even timeless. I had a mile-wide s*** eating grin on my face during the entire first sax solo of the first track! Borderline pretentious, but masterfully beautiful.

The story behind this album is in itself amazing and inspiring: a European musicologist who conducted his Master's thesis on the Ellington - Strayhorn collaboration unearthed these pieces, most of which are WORLD PREMIERES. That's right: Strayhorn compositions that have never before seen the light of day? Why is it? Probably due to a variety of reasons, but none of them having to do with the technical and artistic quality of the compositions themselves, for sure! As it turns out, Strayhorn averaged about one composition a week for a few decades. Too much for the Ellington Orchestra to handle. Through an extraordinary act of love and dedication -- from that of the musicologist himself, on through to the bandleader, all the band members themselves, and those who graciously funded the project -- we now have definitive interpretations of some more of Strayhorn's subtle, humble genius.

There are a wide variety of compositions spanning the entire spectrum of Strayhorn's genius, but not a dull, low point on this album. Some might gasp at me saying this, but I believe this is as good or even a better introduction to Strayhorn -- the composer -- than is Ellington's superb, "And His Mother Called Him Bill." Ellington's tribute is the pinnacle intro to their collaboration, though, no doubt. But get both, and you won't be disappointed.

Sound quality is also amazing.

The compositions and arrangements on this amazing CD are beyond master-class. Strayhorn never runs out of colors or instruments. Each cut is like listening to a symphony orchestra--yet it is only a sixteen piece band. The Dutch Jazz Orchestra is superb in its execution. I keep trying to listen to other CDs in my car, but I keep coming back to Strayhorn. I have been listening to it for 8 months everyday, and I keep hearing new things each time I play it. I bought and gave away eight copies as Christmas presents to my band members,(I bought them at Tower for 16.99 apiece) and I just ordered 3 more here at Amazon for 12.99 apiece.) This album is a masterpiece, and the Music SWINGS! I hope they do another CD.