Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - Rhapsody in Blue Live (2009)

Music

Heard at the Edinburgh & Brecon Jazz Festivals in 2006, this seemed an absolute model for big-band projects, with Tommy Smith's re-orchestration of Gershwin's original played with love and passion by a very young group, and piano soloist Brian Kellock showing his genius for differing idioms throughout.The recording (from Edinburgh's Queen's Hall) takes a few minutes to get going but once you dig in, there's a continual round of treats as the hour ticks by. The standout is Smith's brilliant invention of an Afro-Cuban section, horns blazing.
From its 1924 premiere onwards, George Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' has been a monumental piece of composed jazz, a 'prestige' project revisited, usually with an air of respectful reverence, either by classical orchestras wishing to dip their toes in jazz, or by jazz pianists keen to attract the attention of an audience outside their customary orbit.
Oddly - given the fact that its composer is responsible for providing the jazz world with some of its most durable and adaptable improvising vehicles, 'I Got Rhythm' only the most obvious example - it has seldom, if ever, been taken as a stepping-off point for such an adventurous jazz arrangement as the one provided here to pianist Brian Kellock and the SNJO by saxophonist Tommy Smith.
From the very start of this live recording from the Edinburgh Jazz Festival 2006, it is obvious that the above-mentioned stultifying reverence has been cast aside: instead of the most celebrated clarinet glissando in the music, it begins with what liner-note writer Rob Adams rightly describes as 'an emphatic statement of the theme...leading into Kellock's first feature, a kind of rhapsody in blues'.
Thereafter, Gershwin's composition is used as inspiration and thematic anchor for lusty big-band swing, exuberant latin excursions, a joyous stride-piano/trumpet duet etc., all skilfully integrated into an entirely convincing whole by the sheer quality of Smith's writing and the virtuosic piano playing of Kellock (who performed the piece as a student in 1981).
Also featuring powerful contributions from, among others, alto player Martin Kershaw, trumpeter Ryan Quigley and Smith himself, this is an ambitious but wholly successful adaptation of a wonderful piece of music, and comes warmly recommended.
TRACK LIST:
01. Rhapsody in Blue [0:53:57.45]
Recording Time: - 53:57
Download links:
Download from Filesonic
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1496191274/Scottish.National.Jazz.Orchestra.-.Rhapsody.in.Blue.Live.(2009).part1.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1496205261/Scottish.National.Jazz.Orchestra.-.Rhapsody.in.Blue.Live.(2009).part2.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1496206031/Scottish.National.Jazz.Orchestra.-.Rhapsody.in.Blue.Live.(2009).part3.rar
http://www.filesonic.com/file/1496192631/Scottish.National.Jazz.Orchestra.-.Rhapsody.in.Blue.Live.(2009).part4.rar
Download from Wupload
http://www.wupload.com/file/63600383/Scottish.National.Jazz.Orchestra.-.Rhapsody.in.Blue.Live.(2009).part1.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/63602062/Scottish.National.Jazz.Orchestra.-.Rhapsody.in.Blue.Live.(2009).part2.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/63599504/Scottish.National.Jazz.Orchestra.-.Rhapsody.in.Blue.Live.(2009).part3.rar
http://www.wupload.com/file/63597439/Scottish.National.Jazz.Orchestra.-.Rhapsody.in.Blue.Live.(2009).part4.rar
Enjoy ! Any problems ? Don't hesitate to PM me !

Scottish National Jazz Orchestra Rhapsody in Blue Live 2009

Free Downloads Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - Rhapsody in Blue Live (2009), Shareware, Ftp, Direct links, RapidShare, Megaupload, DepositFiles, HotFile, Uploading, Easy-Share.