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Estudios

Facts

StudioGSP
Release DateSeptember 12, 2000
UPC Code071083221224
 

About Estudios

Melding jazz and classical music has been attempted with varying degrees of success by luminaries from George Gershwin to Miles Davis to The MJQ; even Grover Washington took a shot at it shortly before his passing. It is hard to discern much jazz in Grusin and Ritenour's venture, unless it is to bring out the implied swing in Bach's Concerto in A Minor for Four Keyboards and Strings, or a propensity for "smooth jazz" romanticism in some melodies and lush string arrangements. They do offer a varied program including some impassioned Bartók (featuring violinist Gil Shaham) and some sprightly Spanish dances courtesy of composer Manuel de Falla The high point, though, is soprano Renee Fleming's performance of "Cantilena" from Villa Lobos's "Bachianas Brasilieras," which proves as ethereal and haunting as its subject matter--the moon. Fleming also reveals a surprising soulfullness and unexpected feel for jazz phrasing in her performances of "The Water Is Wide" and "Shenandoah." In the end, it is she who truly brings the two worlds together. --Michael Ross Amazon.com

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. No. 1 in C major (allegro)
  2. No. 2 in A minor (moderato con espressivo)
  3. No. 3 in A major (andantino)
  4. No. 4 in D major (allegretto)
  5. No. 5 in G major (moderato)
  6. No. 6 in C major (moderato)
  7. No. 7 in A minor (allegro)
  8. No. 8 in E major (moderato)
  9. No. 9 in A major (allegretto grazioso)
  10. No. 10 in D major (allegretto)
  11. No. 11 in D minor (agitato)
  12. No. 12 in D major (andante mosso)
  13. No. 13 in A major (andantino grazioso)
  14. No. 14 in D major (allegro moderato)
  15. No. 15 in C major (allegro moderato)
  16. No. 16 in F major (andante)
  17. No. 17 in A minor (moderato)
  18. No. 18 in A major (allegretto)
  19. No. 19 in E minor (allegro moderato)
  20. No. 20 in A major (allegro brillante)
  21. No. 21 in A major (andantino)
  22. No. 22 in C major (allegretto)
  23. No. 23 in A major (allegro)
  24. No. 24 in E major (andantino con espressione - animato)
  25. No. 25 in A major (allegro brillante)
  26. Estudio No. 1 in C major (andantino) (Op. 6/1)
  27. Estudio No. 2 in C major (andante) (Op. 35/13)
  28. Estudio No. 3 in A major (andante allegro) (Op. 6/2)
  29. Estudio No. 4 in D major (allegro moderato) (Op. 6/1)
  30. Estudio No. 5 in B minor (allegretto) (Op. 35/22)
  31. Estudio No. 6 in D major (moderato) (Op. 35/17)
  32. Estudio No. 7 in F major (andantino cantabile) (Op. 31/21)
  33. Estudio No. 8 in D minor (moderato) (Op. 31/16)
  34. Estudio No. 9 in A minor (andante allegro) (Op. 31/20)
  35. Estudio No. 10 in A major (andante) (Op. 31/19)
Disc 2
  1. Estudio No. 11 in E major (Op. 6/3)
  2. Estudio No. 12 in A major (allegro) (Op. 6/6)
  3. Estudio No. 13 in D minor (andante allegro) (Op. 6/9)
  4. Estudio No. 14 in A major (andante) (Op. 6/12)
  5. Estudio No. 15 in D minor (moderato) (Op. 35/16)
  6. Estudio No. 16 in G major (Op. 29/23)
  7. Estudio No. 17 in E minor (allegro moderato) (Op. 6/11)
  8. Estudio No. 18 in E flat major (andantino) (Op. 29/22)
  9. Estudio No. 19 in B flat major (andante lento) (Op. 29/13)
  10. Estudio No. 20 in C major (allegro moderato) (Op. 29/17)
  11. No. 1 (movido)
  12. No. 2 (coral - lento)
  13. No. 3 (rapido)
  14. No. 4 (comodo - allegretto)
  15. No. 5 (allegretto / montune)
  16. No. 6
  17. No. 7 (lo mas rapido posible)
  18. No. 8
  19. No. 9
  20. No. 10
  21. No. 11 (para los ligados y las notas tonidas / allegretto)
  22. No. 12 (para los acordes disueltos en legato / tranquillo - moderato)
  23. No. 13 (para notas tonidas y doble-ligados / movidos
  24. No. 14 (para los doble-ligados / allegro)
  25. No. 15 (para los acordes de 3 notas / sarabanda - movendo il tempo un poco / lirico
  26. No. 16 (para ornamentos y acordes disueltos / tempo da obertura francesca / grave)
  27. No. 17 (para arpegios mixtos y adornos cortos / moderato)
  28. No. 18 (para los ornamentos / moderato quasi lento)
  29. No. 19 (para los acordes de cuatro notas / movido / allegretto)
  30. No. 20 (para los arpegios mixtos / introduction movido / rapido tema)

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User Reviews

Average user review: 4.0 (10 reviews)

rating: 4 QuoteJazz Fanatics are just tooooooooo cool!Quote
There's nothing like the pompous opinion of a Jazz elitist that serves quite as well for being a reverse barometer for something I'll be inclined to enjoy. No wonder Jazz suffers from such little wide-spread acceptance in this country when those who claim to be fans are so quick to criticize anything that either doesn't fall under the highly interpretive definition of it or ventures into other realms. Is this a Jazz album? NO! Is this a Classical album? NO! Is this an album of well-performed classically-influenced music that is pleasing to listen to and doesn't make you feel as if you're being stabbed in the forehead with an ice pick? YES! By the way, Dave Grusin is the pianist, not Bob James! July 7, 2005

rating: 5 QuoteAdmirable heartfelt rendition!Quote

The profound sincerity of Dave Grusin is one of his most notable qualities as human being. From time he as Sting, turns around to the classic mood and decides to put a sand's grain for proving the distance in musical genres is just in the mind.
The presence of Lee Ritenour, Julian Lloyd Weber, Gil Shaham and Renee Flemming so confirms it.
The tune trowel covers a wide spectrum. From Spain Moreno Torroba the master composer of so many overwhelming works such Spain Castles for instance, Don Manuel de Falla who elevated the Apennines Mountains with his Three Cornered Hat or El Amor brujo and Federico Mompou to the great Hungarian composer Bela Bartok , from Fritz Kreisler to Johann Sebastian Bach. The transcriptions are excellent and even maintain the authentic spirit. The best piece of the CD to my mind is Bartok's transcription Rumanian Folk Dances. Grusin kept the passion and profound noblesse of the score.
We all knew about his famous album dedicated to George Gershwin's memory in 1993, sand that' s why I am not so surprised by this musical tribute to this supreme universe. As a smooth breeze, surrounded and supported by pleasant harmonies. This album could become in the true for any jazz lover to incursion in the universe of the classics
Personally I really expect Grusin from time to time, make another superb arrangements. Imagine for instance Mendelssohn's Venetian Gondola, Grieg's Holberg Suite or Brahms ` Intermezzo Op. 117 No. 5, Samuel Barber's adagio, or Bocherini's Fandango.
It's good to remind Hubert Laws has to his own, another superb arrangements in the far seventies as Starvinsky's Le sacre and the famous adaptation of Tchaikovsky `s Romeo and Juliet or Ravel's Forlane from Couperin's grave, that meant for him a Special Award in 1976.
Bravo Mr. Grusin for this artistic recording
May 15, 2005

rating: 2 Quotenearly goodQuote
This was a great idea - a very good one. It opens all of our eyes to the possibilities of chamber arrangements.

And some of the arrangements are very very cool, but I have a few issues with this CD. I have not heard any other CDs of Lee Ritenour, but know he's a Jazz guitarist right? Call me a traditionalist, but I can tell the difference straight away. You can't put a classical guitar in front of a jazz dude and expect miracles. Or in this case, anything. The tone is very bad from lee's hands, and the mix has left his guitar sound even more wanting - quiet and lifeless.

And whats with the super crisp percussion over some of the tracks? I see what these guys are trying to do, but it doesn't work for me. Great repertoire, but interpretation is a bit lacking - and dare I say - a touch uneducated.

That said, stand in performances from fleming, shaham and lloyd webber are great and dave grusin's piano playing (whilst being completely unothodox in some places) is solid and interestingly configured.

If I was the producer for this CD, I would do a lot of things differently: but in doing so I'd probably change the target market from being a Jazz/pop classical/easy listening market to a market that enjoys classy playing and interpretation of new arrangements for chamber groups.

So as a traditionalist, I'm not a fan of this CD. If you're one too, beware. April 10, 2005

rating: 4 QuoteJust an approach to classical musicQuote
The disc wasn't released for Jazz lovers. It is a collection of beautiful classical pieces played with little (sometimes without) improvisation, respecting the melodies and its harmony. I would only recommend this disc if you are a Grusin/Ritenour fan and like classical music. You will surely spend a great time listening the tracks, any time you are in the mood to listen some Bartok, de Falla or Bach. April 10, 2005

rating: 5 QuoteThis CD is incredibleQuote
I have been a Ritenour fan for 5-6 years, mainly from the group Fourplay, although I do own 2-3 of his solo cd's. I also love classical so I purchased this cd as an experiment. I cannot put it down! The balance between Jazz and Classical is perfect. Neither comes through too strong but just right! I would recommend this cd to anyone, but get ready for so emotions as the perfromances by Fleming will bring tears to your eyes. October 9, 2001

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