The weekend something 2 [14-16/1/12]

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

another repeat on JL [ta RW] harry james .... he kept good company eh


bricolage on JLU ... a feature on Harriott and the Rees-Williams Trio doing their classic thing

Jon3 makes a real effort to arouse interest

Romanian pianist Lucian Ban and his Enescu Re-imagined octet in performance at the London Jazz Festival. Ban has been resident in New York for the last decade and has assembled leading avant-garde musicians from the city to reinterpret the music of 20th-century composer George Enescu. The music combines elements of classical chamber music and folk-like themes with freely improvised sections featuring, among others, viola player Mat Maneri and trumpeter Ralph Alessi.

like the programming this thread contains recycled elements ....

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

The 21st century will be the century of Enescu.' The words of violin master Yehudi Menuhin, on the Romanian composer whose music is at the heart of this week's programme. You can hear in tonight's live performance by pianist Lucian Ban why Georges Enescu is revered not only by Menuhin but by a band of avant-garde improvisers more familiar with jam sessions than violin sonatas.

First though, it's time to ease the strain on the Jazz on 3 music desk, creaking in recent weeks under the weight of lots of ear-catching new releases. I'm joined by John Fordham to play you our picks, including Chick Corea celebrating Bill Evans and British pianist Matthew Bourne’s first solo outing.

Then it's time for the gig. Enescu's folk-like themes evoke his (and pianist/bandleader Lucian Ban's) Transylvanian homeland, but they're woven loosely in and around freer sections of group interaction. Violinist Albrecht Maurer and viola player Mat Maneri are especially strong at giving the music both classical chamber-music and avant-garde feels – their duet in the first piece is a real highlight. Badal Roy's tablas and percussion add a nice pungency, especially in the loose-limbed Prelude. And there's some real East-Coast attitude in the finale, particularly from trumpeter Ralph Alessi and saxophonist Tony Malaby, as everyone rolls up their sleeves for some full-on improv – perhaps showing how they would have finished this excerpt from Enescu's unfinished fourth symphony.

As John Fordham says…'to anyone who thinks they've heard one too many crossovers between classical and jazz, stick around for this one'.


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like the programming this thread is in a closed loop of autonomously enhanced narcissism

[Serial_Apologist]

like the programming this thread is in a closed loop of autonomously enhanced narcissism

...and you will hear two too many crossovers between classical and jazz.

No! only joking. I was lissenin...

[Quarky]

"Enescu's folk-like themes evoke his (and pianist/bandleader Lucian Ban's) Transylvanian homeland, but they're woven loosely in and around freer sections of group interaction. Violinist Albrecht Maurer and viola player Mat Maneri are especially strong at giving the music both classical chamber-music and avant-garde feels – their duet in the first piece is a real highlight. Badal Roy's tablas and percussion add a nice pungency, especially in the loose-limbed Prelude. And there's some real East-Coast attitude in the finale, particularly from trumpeter Ralph Alessi and saxophonist Tony Malaby, as everyone rolls up their sleeves for some full-on improv – perhaps showing how they would have finished this excerpt from Enescu's unfinished fourth symphony."

Which newsletter is that Calum?

Listened with interest. Out went those bluesy soulful sounds that I think of as Jazz and in came the tabla and strong Romanian melodies - surprisingly tonal. Enescu obviously was not a Ligeti, nor even a Bartok/ Kodaly.

Still, it was a valid form of music - it was just something completely different from the preceding week and Steve Colman. But still a worthwhile listen.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

the Jon3 newsletter Oddball, you can subscribe for it here and the nefarious tweetie pie tingy as well ahem ...

[Quarky]

Much appreciated, Calum.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

the Lucian Ban Ensemble gig is pretty engrossing music, highly recommended imho ... i will score the album on my next emusic dld ... a far more interesting utilisation of composed pieces than the trio on JLU i think ...