The Sunday Jazz Brunch Presents

Jazz With Strings

Air Date: 8/21/2022

My parents had a bunch of vinyl discs with music in what was referred to as "light orchestral style," the "light" part of that possibly referring to the scarcity of complex emotions, or perhaps any emotion at all. This was puzzling, as my dad was a classical music lover who enjoyed the towering emotions brought forth in the works of Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and many other giants of the genre. 

As my musical journey in jazz progressed from Coleman Hawkins through John Coltrane, whenever I heard anything resembling jazz that had strings or a full orchestra, it made me think of that "light" style. I really couldn't listen.

Maybe I should have. 

It could be simply that I have aged and we mellow with age, thereby becoming more accepting of things that are 'light.' Or maybe I simply got over my prejudices. Or, perhaps I have discovered artists who are able to wring honest emotion from a string orchestra in a jazz setting.

They way I look at it now, is that an orchestra as a whole is an instrument. Yes, a complicated one with many moving parts and multiple people involved in producing its sound. With a good song and a fine arranger, you can get a unique sound with this instrument.

In the next edition of SJB we lean toward the mellow, contemplative side of things, but with plenty of emotion and several fine arrangers.

The show opens with Alan Broadbent's recent release Broadbent Plays Brubeck. (Check out my interview with the talented composer, arranger, and pianist here.)  Mr. Broadbent has released several CDs with string orchestra during the past few years, all with very beautiful arrangements that make me think of American composer Charles Ives, or maybe Aaron Copeland.

McCoy Tyner's ode to Burt Bacharach features arranger and conductor John Clayton, who has arranged for many artists including Diana Krall. Later in the hour you'll hear Ms. Krall with one of her two other collaborating arranger/composers, Claus Ogerman. The other is Johnny Mandel.

Speaking of Johnny Mandel, you'll hear his arrangement with Shirley Horn on the title track from her release Here's To Life. Mr Mandel earned a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) for his work on this 1992 album. Ms. Horn sings and plays piano.

Angela Hagenbach is a vocalist with a sultry, smoky voice, who teams up with arrangers Tamir Hendelman and Kuno Schmid. This leads into the sweet Diana Krall number, and then we have Earl Klugh's tribute to film theme songs. Mr. Klugh is joined by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra arranged and conducted by Don Sebesky.
 
I will be the first to admit that these sets may wander somewhat into saccharine territory. I'll let you decide. However, if you hear a nice saccharine piece and enjoy it, I won't tell anybody.
 
Best,
 
Marty

Photo: Alan Broadbent conducts the London Metropolitan Strings by Juan Carlos Hernandez.

HOUR ONE: Contemplative Morning

Alan Broadbent\Broadbent Plays Brubeck 2021\Home at Last
McCoy Tyner-What The World Needs Now - The Music of Burt Bacharach-05 One Less Bell to Answer 1997
Geoffrey Keezer Trio-On My Way To You-10 Across the Universe - Give Peace a Chance 2018
Shirley Horn\Here's To Life\Here's To Life
Angela Hagenbach-03 Summer Me, Winter Me (2009)
Diana Krall-The Look of Love-08 I Get Along Without You Very Well 2001
Earl Klugh-Sounds And Visions Vol. 2-17 Theme from ''The Deadly Affair'' 1993
David Hazeltine, Peter Washington & Louis Hayes-The Classic Trio-05 Catherine's Fantasy 1997
David Sills-Green-05 Moon and Sand 2007
Christian Jacob Trio-Originals-11 Ballade Pour Charles 2019

HOUR TWO: New For You

Barry Coates, Jimmy Haslip, Jerry Kalaf\New Dreams 2022\Mays
Tierney Sutton\Paris Sessions 2 2022\Beautiful Love
Dmitri Matheny\Cascadia 2022\Cascadia
Sheléa-Pretty World-03 Will Someone Ever Look At Me That Way 2018
Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua And Darek Oles-Live in Italy 2022-02 New Hope [Live]
Jeremy Pelt-Soundtrack 2022-10 You and Me
Mark Filsinger Chamber Big Band\Groovin' High 2022\A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes
Randy Napoleon\Puppets 2022\03 RANDY NAPOLEON - The Jazzdiddy Waltz
Michael Benedict-Jazz Vibes 2022-03 Remberance
Jackie Messina\Necessary Arrangements 2022\Little B's Poem
Lenny Marcus Trio\When a Door Opens 2022\Twice the Spice

HOUR THREE: Brazil/World

Antonio Adolfo\Octet and Originals 2022\10 Toada Moderna
Tierney Sutton\Paris Sessions 2 2022\Zingaro
WJ3 All Stars\My Ship 2022\Wave
Duduka Da Fonseca-Samba Jazz in Black & White-03 Bye Bye Brasil 2006
Daniela Soledade\Pretty World 2022\Como E Gostoso Sonhar
Nate Najar Trio-Aquarela do Brasil-06 chovendo no roseira (double rainbow) 2014
Diego Figueiredo-Broken Bossa-03 Estudo N1 2015
Nilson Matta-East Side Rio Drive-08 Lucas De Nadine 2015
Daniela Soledade\Pretty World 2022\C008 Daniela Soledade - Circo Da Vida
Nate N\Jazz Samba Pra Sempre 007 Nate Najar - Na Baixa do Sapateiro
Oscar Castro-Neves-Brazilian Scandals 1988-05 Cafe Copacabana

HOUR FOUR: Groove, Baby

Jazz Funk Soul\Forecast 2022\Keep Holding On
Lindsey Webster - Stay With Me (Soul Jazz Mix) (feat. Randy Brecker)
Jimmy Haslip\Nightfall\Palo Alto
Paul Brown\Promised Land 2022\Da Spot
Antonio Faraò-Eklektik-03 I Send to You 2017
Anita Baker-Rhythm of Love-07 It's Been You 1994
Najee-Poetry In Motion-05 We'll Be Missing You
Andre Ferreri-04 Cafe (2015)
George Benson-Livin' Inside Your Love-02-Hey Girl
Gary Meek-Step 7-02 When Love Appears 2002
Franklin, Aretha-Aretha's Best-16 Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) 2001
Grant Geissman-Say That-06 New York Stories 2006


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