Sunday, May 15, 2016
Steven Cerra
"Jazz is the voice of the American Soul" — George Gershwin, Theatre Magazine, June 1926
Porgy and Bess is an English-language [light] opera composed in 1934 by George Gershwin, with a libretto written by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin from Heyward's novel Porgy and later play of the same title.
Porgy and Bess was first performed in New York City on September 30, 1935, and featured an entire cast of classically trained African-American singers—a daring artistic choice at the time.
If you’ve ever wondered what the P and B Jazz score sounded like in Gershwin’s mind’s eye at the time he was composing it in the mid-1930’s, then you need to look no further than the soon to be released double CD by the Jim Cullum Jazz Band - Porgy and Bess - Live [Riverwalk- RVW; June 1, 2016].
Jim Eigo, the major domo of Jazz Promo Services, sent along this advanced press release:
The Musicians:
JIM CULLUM - cornet, leader.
ALLAN VACHE - Clarinet,
MIKE PITTSLEY - trombone,
JOHN SHERIDAN - piano,
DON MOPSICK - string bass,
HOWARD ELKINS - banjo & guitar,
ED TORRES - drums,
Narration by, WILLIAM WARFIELD
Porgy and Bess musical arranging by John Sheridan with Randy Reinhart, Allan Vache and Jim Cullum.
Bandleader and cornetist Jim Cullum says that performing George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess as a jazz piece has been the highlight of his 50-year musical life. In performances on tour across the country, the Cullum band's original jazz transcription of the Gershwin score has captured critical acclaim for its originality and for including virtually all the music from Gershwin's folk opera.
This 1992 performance at The Landing in San Antonio is unique among the many jazz interpretations of Porgy and Bess for its inclusion of the distinctive and highly personal narration by bass-baritone William Warfield, known for his definitive portrayals of Porgy playing opposite Leontyne Price in the 1950s; and in the completeness of the musical selections— there are 28 compositions on the double album, including the little-known pieces from Gershwin's opera, Buzzard Song and Oh, Doctor Jesus; and for its electric live performance captured at The Landing in San Antonio by the Grammy award winning audio team of Ed Greene, Jim Anderson and Malcolm Harper.
The Dolby SR two-track recording from the audio truck on the night of performance had never been played back and was sourced for this recording. Every attempt was made by the audio team to preserve the warmth of the original analog recording in mastering and manufacturing the album.
Jim Cullum offered these comments about Gershwin, Porgy and Bess and this recording project in these excerpts from his insert notes to the CD.
read more: http://jazzprofiles.blogspot.com.br
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