Prom 27 - 4.08.17: Ella and Dizzy: A Centenary Tribute

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  • Eine Alpensinfonie
    Host
    • Nov 2010
    • 20569

    Prom 27 - 4.08.17: Ella and Dizzy: A Centenary Tribute

    19:30 Friday 4 August 2017 ON TV
    Royal Albert Hall

    Gershwin: Manhattan Rhapsody
    Gershwin: A Foggy Day
    Noble: Cherokee
    Monk: Round Midnight
    Gershwin: Embraceable You
    Ellington: Harlem
    Lecuona: Jungle Drums
    Gershwin: Fascinating Rhythm
    Gillespie/Pozo/Fuller: Manteca
    Ellington/Tizol: Caravan
    Reeves: Tango du Jour
    Gillespie: A Night in Tunisia
    Shearing: Lullaby of Birdland


    Dianne Reeves (singer), James Morrison (trumpet)
    Victor Sangiorgio (piano)
    BBC Concert Orchestra
    John Mauceri, conductor

    Described by The New York Times as 'the most admired jazz diva since the heyday of Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday', Dianne Reeves is joined by virtuoso trumpeter James Morrison to pay a double tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie in the centenary year of their births.
    Conducted by Broadway musical and Hollywood movie-score legend John Mauceri, the celebrations contrast the Great American Songbook, which played a key role in Fitzgerald's live and recording career, with the bebop and Afro-Latin sounds in which Gillespie excelled.
    Last edited by Eine Alpensinfonie; 01-08-17, 08:49.
  • johnn10
    Full Member
    • Mar 2011
    • 88

    #2
    Far too much talk. Also, why don't the artists supply details of their life stories for publication in the written programme rather than waffle on about it before each item?

    Comment

    • bluestateprommer
      Full Member
      • Nov 2010
      • 3007

      #3
      Not the best musical start to this 'crossover' Prom, with a somewhat heavy-handed reworking of the Second Rhapsody into the 'Manhattan Rhapsody', and not the "swingiest" pacing of the work. For me, things picked up a lot with James Morrison and his take on 'Cherokee'. If JM takes the 'Dizzy' solo on 'A Night in Tunisia', that could be a lot of fun.

      Per johnn10's comment, the standard bios in the concert programs are just that, standard bios, so in their chat from the RAH stage, each of them is sharing more personal stories connected to EF and DG rather than their own personal bios as such.

      PS: The interval feature is actually very enjoyable to hear, with selected Ella recordings.
      Last edited by bluestateprommer; 04-08-17, 19:55.

      Comment

      • johnn10
        Full Member
        • Mar 2011
        • 88

        #4
        Originally posted by bluestateprommer View Post
        Not the best musical start to this 'crossover' Prom, with a somewhat heavy-handed reworking of the Second Rhapsody into the 'Manhattan Rhapsody', and not the "swingiest" pacing of the work. For me, things picked up a lot with James Morrison and his take on 'Cherokee'. If JM takes the 'Dizzy' solo on 'A Night in Tunisia', that could be a lot of fun.

        Per johnn10's comment, the standard bios in the concert programs are just that, standard bios, so in their chat from the RAH stage, each of them is sharing more personal stories connected to EF and DG rather than their own personal bios as such.
        That maybe the case, but why do the artists think that anyone is particularly interested? Most of the several thousand audience members in the hall will have some connection with the musical items -why should there be an assumption that those of the performers are somehow more valid and interesting than those of anyone else?

        Comment

        • Braunschlag
          Full Member
          • Jul 2017
          • 484

          #5
          Originally posted by bluestateprommer View Post
          Not the best musical start to this 'crossover' Prom, with a somewhat heavy-handed reworking of the Second Rhapsody into the 'Manhattan Rhapsody', and not the "swingiest" pacing of the work. For me, things picked up a lot with James Morrison and his take on 'Cherokee'. If JM takes the 'Dizzy' solo on 'A Night in Tunisia', that could be a lot of fun.

          Per johnn10's comment, the standard bios in the concert programs are just that, standard bios, so in their chat from the RAH stage, each of them is sharing more personal stories connected to EF and DG rather than their own personal bios as such.

          PS: The interval feature is actually very enjoyable to hear, with selected Ella recordings.
          Agreed on the Rhapsody, but isn't it the same basic piece which exists under at least three names - Manhattan, Second and Rivet? It's had a few different emasculation over the years. Clunk pianist though, I think he had rivet guns in mind.
          Things perked up immediately as soon as Morrison opened his set, the main reason I'm watching it, even Frau Braunschlag came in from the kitchen wondering what the hell was going on! Not that impressed by the Ellington piece though, a rather rambling thing. And once you hear the real thing in the interval it makes you realise that no-one can imitate that.
          Looking forward to JM going Latin in part two!

          Comment

          • Old Grumpy
            Full Member
            • Jan 2011
            • 3596

            #6
            Originally posted by Braunschlag View Post
            Looking forward to JM going Latin in part two!
            Agree - much enjoying the Afro-Cuban influence



            OG

            Comment

            • Braunschlag
              Full Member
              • Jul 2017
              • 484

              #7
              Yup, the Latin set certainly pepped things up. Morrison stole the show for me, but that was almost a forgone conclusion. He really does have astonishing stamina - an excellent example of circular breathing in Tunisia, golly gosh

              Comment

              • Old Grumpy
                Full Member
                • Jan 2011
                • 3596

                #8
                Yep, must say I enjoyed his contribution the most. There is a no doubt Dianne Reeves has a great voice, but I could never see the attraction in scat singing - I'd rather hear the real thing. I suspect the BBCCO were having a ball!

                Comment

                • Lat-Literal
                  Guest
                  • Aug 2015
                  • 6983

                  #9
                  Was going to watch this one tonight on the television and then I discovered it was broadcast on Friday night.

                  Suppose I can watch it on the I-Player but it isn't nearly as comfortable.

                  Do I not like the television scheduling of the Proms.

                  Would much prefer them all to be the on same nights every week rather than all over the place.

                  Comment

                  • CGR
                    Full Member
                    • Aug 2016
                    • 370

                    #10
                    I did not enjoy it. It was bland and characterless. A concert for those who don't really know what modern jazz is or simply don't like it.

                    Comment

                    • LHC
                      Full Member
                      • Jan 2011
                      • 1555

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Lat-Literal View Post
                      Was going to watch this one tonight on the television and then I discovered it was broadcast on Friday night.

                      Suppose I can watch it on the I-Player but it isn't nearly as comfortable.

                      Do I not like the television scheduling of the Proms.

                      Would much prefer them all to be the on same nights every week rather than all over the place.
                      The televised proms are on the same nights every week; there is a prom on BBC4 every Friday and Sunday.
                      "I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square."
                      Lady Bracknell The importance of Being Earnest

                      Comment

                      • cloughie
                        Full Member
                        • Dec 2011
                        • 22113

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Old Grumpy View Post
                        Yep, must say I enjoyed his contribution the most. There is a no doubt Dianne Reeves has a great voice, but I could never see the attraction in scat singing - I'd rather hear the real thing. I suspect the BBCCO were having a ball!
                        The string sound in Embraceable You was superb, but Dianne Reeves, whose albums I really rate, milked the vocals a little too much. Her recording of EY, on an album which is a tribute to Sarah Vaughan, is very good, as indeed was Ella's.

                        Comment

                        • Hornspieler
                          Late Member
                          • Sep 2012
                          • 1847

                          #13
                          Originally posted by CGR View Post
                          I did not enjoy it. It was bland and characterless. A concert for those who don't really know what modern jazz is or simply don't like it.
                          .

                          Modern Jazz is the likes of trumpeter Miles Davis - lauded by his fans but quite unable to play more than 4 bars before running out of ideas and saxophonists Dexter Gordon and John Coltrane, who waggle their fingers all over the keys and have no idea of what is coming next.

                          This prom was highlighting the Swing Band Era - the likes of Benny Goodman, Harry James, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman- vocalists Billy Holliday, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan and, of course, Ella Fitzgerald.; which followed on from whats we call Traditional Jazz, who were originally called Jas bands.

                          This concert was melodic as opposed to so-called Modern Jazz,: which can only be described as Spasmodic


                          HS

                          Comment

                          • doversoul1
                            Ex Member
                            • Dec 2010
                            • 7132

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Hornspieler View Post
                            .

                            Modern Jazz is the likes of trumpeter Miles Davis - lauded by his fans but quite unable to play more than 4 bars before running out of ideas and saxophonists Dexter Gordon and John Coltrane, who waggle their fingers all over the keys and have no idea of what is coming next.

                            This prom was highlighting the Swing Band Era - the likes of Benny Goodman, Harry James, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman- vocalists Billy Holliday, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan and, of course, Ella Fitzgerald.; which followed on from whats we call Traditional Jazz, who were originally called Jas bands.

                            This concert was melodic as opposed to so-called Modern Jazz,: which can only be described as Spasmodic


                            HS
                            Are you sure you don't want to delete this post?

                            Comment

                            • cloughie
                              Full Member
                              • Dec 2011
                              • 22113

                              #15
                              Originally posted by CGR View Post
                              I did not enjoy it. It was bland and characterless. A concert for those who don't really know what modern jazz is or simply don't like it.
                              CGR, just out of interest what is modern jazz? I had an idea of what Modern Jazz was in the 60s, but 50 plus years on, has the definition changed? ...and if it hasn't changed is it really still modern?
                              Last edited by cloughie; 07-08-17, 10:15.

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