For
many ardent listeners, the words “jazz” and “philharmonic” have heavy
significance when used in close proximity. It automatically summons images of
the all-star concerts and recording sessions the legendary Norman Granz
produced in concert halls around the country. This is not a Granz production.
The philharmonic reference is more in keeping with the classical tradition.
However, the jazz is still for real in Jazz
and the Philharmonic (promo
here), a
concert featuring alumni of the National YoungArts Foundation, the Henry
Mancini Institute Orchestra, and some of the top names in jazz, which airs on
most PBS stations this Friday (yes, real honest-to-gosh jazz on PBS).
Of
course, jazz and classical crossover fusions are nothing new. That is exactly what
Third Stream Jazz was all about. While many of the program selections feature
jazz soloists playing with the Mancini Orchestra (whose namesake would surely
have approved of the program, especially the theme from Charade), there are several straight-up solo, duo, or trio jazz
performances, which is obviously not a bad thing.
In
fact, it is a very good thing when Chick Corea, Dave Grusin, and Bobby McFerrin
open the concert with an elegant but persistently swinging “Autumn Leaves” for
voice and two pianos. Corea fans really get their money’s worth throughout the
concert, with the NEA Jazz Master performing in a variety of settings, mostly
notably joining the Mancini Orchestra on his “Spanish Suite,” a composition
perfectly suited to the evening. His duet with McFerrin, “Armando’s Rhumba” is
not as distinctive, but they clearly enjoy making music together, which is part
of the fun of a show like this.
In
addition to “Spanish Suite,” Terence Blanchard also has feature spots
on “Fugue in C Minor” and “Solfeggietto,” probably the two most overtly
swinging-the-classics numbers of the evening. However, he is probably best
showcased fronting the orchestra for a rendition of “Charade,” a wonderfully
lush arrangement that brings to mind his classic Jazz in Film CD. Yet, perhaps the most effective jazz and classical
dialogue comes when Elizabeth Joy Roe and Shelly Berg tackle “The Man I Love”
as a lyrical but muscular piano duet, from the classical and jazz sides,
respectively.
Nevertheless,
the surprise peak of the concert integrates the sounds of deep roots Americana
as well as jazz and classical when violinist Mark O’Connor joins pianist Dave
Grusin on a sensitive and soulful version of “Simple Gifts,” the Shaker
standard subsequently incorporated into Copeland’s Appalachian Spring. Rather fittingly, Grusin’s “Mountain Dance”
follows. Purists might dismiss it as too “smooth,” but man, is it ever a pretty
melody, sounding almost tailor made for the full orchestral treatment. It also
provides a nice launching pad for O’Connor. In fact, Grusin takes two rather
impressive solos as well: one fleet and swinging and the second surprisingly
adventurous—so take that jazz snobs.
