Jazz Sonatas

Label: Angel
Year: 1994
Released on LP: No
Released on CD: Yes

Tracks

1.Quintet Sonata by Dave Brubeck

Performers: Gerard Reuter (Oboe), Richard Brice (Viola), Andrew Dawes (Violin), Daniel Rothmuller (Cello), Constance Emmerich (Piano)

2.Sonata for Violin and Piano by Dick Hyman

Performers: Dick Hyman (Piano), Yuval Waldman (Violin)

3.Impromptu for 2 Pianos by Roland Hanna

Performers: Dick Hyman (Piano), Roland Hanna (Piano)


4. Sonata for Chamber Trio and Jazz Piano by Roland Hanna

I. Allegro Marcato (Alla Marcia)

II. Allegretto Moderato (Ayanni's Dream)

III. Andante Con Moto (Sir Will's Poem)

IV. Allegro Vivo (Danse Adese)


Performers: Peter Gordon (French Horn), Roland Hanna (Piano), Jesse Levy (Cello), Gary Schocker (Flute)

5. The Minotaur by Dick Hyman

Performers: Dick Hyman (Piano), Yuval Waldman (Violin)

Notes

CD features compositions written by Dave Brubeck, Dick Hyman and Roland Hanna for classical musicians.

Dave contributed to the liner notes.

Reviews

All Music Guide - Review- Copyright

This very unusual release features compositions written by Dave Brubeck, Dick Hyman and Roland Hanna for classical musicians. Brubeck's Quintet Sonata For "An die Musik" is a challenging rhythmically complex sonata inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach, scored for the An die Musik's unusual instrumentation of oboe, piano, violin, viola and cello.

There are many influences in Brubeck's writing; in addition to Bach, there's the flavor of the American west-where the composer grew up on a working cattle ranch, Darius Milhaud, under whom Brubeck studied in graduate school, and of course, jazz. Dick Hyman wrote a three part Sonata For Violin & Piano, accompanying violinist Yuval Waldman on this equally intriguing piece. Hyman also adapted "The Minotaur" (a mid-1960s composition he wrote for and performed on an early Moog synthesizer) for violin and piano; this catchy piece combines the rhythms of bossa nova and waltz that proves to be far more effective than its original recording. Roland Hanna's Sonata For Chamber Trio and Jazz Piano is a four part work, with cello, French Horn and flute accompanying Hanna's piano.

This composition was actually adapted by Hanna from four separate jazz works that he had already written and performed, so he found it relatively easy to re-score them for this new setting. As an added bonus, Hanna and Hyman collaborated in the studio to produce the very attractive Impromptu For Two Pianos, a lively improvisation that proves very rewarding. Highly recommended.

Ken Dryden

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