Customer Reviews

Reflections On Duke - Jean-Yves Thibaudet Plays The Music Of Duke Ellington

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Jean-Yves Thibaudet is a master of French pianism: the playing on his Debussy and Ravel discs is hard to beat by anyone, living or dead. In fact, his 2 cd disc of the complete piano pieces of Ravel is one of my favorites ever. This new cd of arragements of the music of Duke Ellington is at once hot and cool and contemplative and exciting and absolutely splendid. There are well known songs like "Sophisticated Lady" and "Lush Life" but also some esoteric stuff like a suite from Ellington's Broadway show, "Beggar's Holiday." The arrangements were made for Thibaudet by masters like Dick Hyman and the liner notes are very informative.

This CD is so much better than the pretty good Conversations with Bill Evans CD Thibaudet also recorded. The other set has some beautiful playing, but it lacks the variety of this one.

While the Bill Evans CD is mainly performances of Jed Distler arrangements and transcriptions, the Ellington CD also includes arrangements by Dick Hyman, and three others.

Also, the Evans CD has a lot of moody tracks and few up-tempo ones. But the Ellington CD has a good mixture and "works" much more satisfyingly as a program.

Standout tracks include:
Jubilee Stomp [the opening track]
I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good [a Bill Evans performance, transcribed by Distler]
Sophisticated Lady
Beggar's Holiday Suite
and
Fantasy on Caravan

Highly recommended

Reflections On Duke is pure taste. The choice of Ellington pieces is perfect and Thibaudet is so very accomplished on piano that sometimes a listener gets wrapped-up in "where's he going with this." Then more identifiable Duke melody line emerges and we're off and running again. A tip of the hat to Jean-Yves. Never heard anything like it.

Every time I listen to this CD, I love it more. Lovers of great piano playing, of jazz, of Duke Ellington, of classical music will all enjoy this CD. The creativity and originality of the musical ideas are a joy to hear.

CD arrived when promised in excellent condition and I have it in my CD player in one of my cars. I am pleased.