 |  | Jazz from Russia With Love |  |
It's just a lovely collection of Shostakovich's Two Jazz Suites, plus his jazzy piano concerto. All sorts of music fall under the baliwick of jazz, and some of these just sound like cheap march and dance-hall music of the time and are a lot of fun, Of course, they are beautifully orchestrated by the master -- and we also get his improvisation on Tea for Two. It's all neat light listening -- a treat of sound all through. He has jitterbugged into semi-classics composing without condescension but rather with wit, bite, and glee.
September 30, 2008Good price, item arrived as described and very promptly. I would buy from this merchant qgain.
November 21, 2007An excellent rendition of Shostakovich's two jazz suites plus his Piano Concerto #1. However, I've heard Rostropovich conduct all three in person, and would welcome a recording of his, since he was a great friend of Shostakovich's. It hasn't been done, and until it is, this will suffice as a fine addition to any classical library.
January 29, 2006| | | Shostakovich the Jazz Guy | |
If Shostakovich had decided to write in the Russian folk idiom, this CD would probably be the best glimpse into that genre.
Intending to raise the level of Soviet jazz, we now have two jazz suites scored for orchestra, but featuring instruments used in a way we don't normally hear in Shostakovich. Using xylophone, twangy guitar, accordion, harmonica, and saxophones, we are treated to various "dance forms" such as waltzes, polkas, foxtrots, and marches. Shostakovich goes from the militant, to the humorous, to the sensual, each with an engaging and "catchy" Russian melody and unusual orchestration. He also orchestrates the famous "Tea for Two" into a short fantasia, which is rather whimsical.
The 1st piano concerto is a kind of odd fit on this CD in my opinion. More in the vein of what we are used to hearing from mainstream Shostakovich, he is rather melodic and often quotes from other works. The bare bones orchestration of piano, trumpet, and strings gives this work a very transparent feel. The first movement has an ominous opening theme. The slow second movement is very exciting in its own right with its sense of drama, rarely dwelling in lugubriousness, carrying the sense of dread from the first movement. The third movement is a sort of recitative to the last movement. The last movement has an unusual string mode mixture, the piano goes into a dance feel and the trumpet has some fanfare licks. Both piano and trumpet work together very well as separate soloists in this movement. He ends in a fury with piano and string poundings, the piano has some raucous quotes, and the trumpet ends with fanfares.
Overall, the performances are stellar. The jazz suites have natural Russian flair, the slow with great sumptuousness, the fast never taking itself too seriously and never careening out of control. The piano concerto doesn't fit the program in my opinion, but a very fine performance indeed. This CD is a must for any collection and an easy introduction to the lighter side of Shostakovich.
October 10, 2005| | | Wonderfully engaging light music from Shostakovich | |
Who knew Shostakovich had such a sense of humor? This disc is delightfully entertaining and sparkles a the turn-of-the century cosmopolitan sound that is simultaneously reminiscent of Milhaud, Gershwin, and Ibert. The result is something supremely different. It's certainly worth a listen or two.
December 4, 2004More reviews at Amazon.com ...
