Big band/crossover to classical

[reith]

Not even sure if this is a suitable title.

Second hurdle, I tend to think of jazz as mostly improvised so the idea of big-band "jazz" may not go down well. Should it be swing?

Point is, Gershwin was always portrayed as someone who straddled the boundaries of popular and classical music, citing the Rhapsody as an excellent example.

More recently I came across a CD of Stan Kenton with his "Innovations" orchestra. Much of this music straddles contemporary classical in a 1950s turbulent way. I also got his recorded performance of "The City of Glass" + "This Moden World". These works were composed by R. Graettinger and seem to use a barrage of compositional techniques including serial, with strings and woodwinds, quite aside from the Kenton brass & saxes.

Has anyone else heard these or come across them? Be aware that they are quite noisy (apart from the saxophone quintet) but if you got by with The Rite of Spring and a copy of these comes your way they might be of interest.

[Thorolf]

First a note on jazz: The written music in the early 20th century used in ballrooms and for popular dance, was known as jazz, even if it contained no improvisation. On the other hand, the written cadenzaes of the classical concerto were increasingly open to improvisation by the soloist. This development took place during the romantic period, and more or less vanished in the second part of the 20th century, so all young people of today believe that classical music is just what is written. Which historically is utterly wrong.

I must admit that I haven’t heard any of the works you mention, but thanks for the tip! In general, the borders between so called “Jazz” and “Classical” is blurred for any fairly modernly oriented people. The great big/symphonic band arranger and composer Sammy Nestico has written lots of crossover interpretations of classical pieces, I just listened to his version of “Plum Fairy” by Tchaikovsky, exquisite work!

The symphonic rock bands of the ’70s also have good stuff approaching classical music (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Yes, Brand X).

And to get big band stuff with symphonic qualities, look no further than Jaco Pastorius’ “Invitation” (1983)

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinf...=6770710&BAB=E

Regards

[reith]

Thanks for that. I may have to borrow the recording you linked from the library as the extracts were perhaps too short. Still, they don't want to give it away, do they. Nice, though.

I would have posted the link to the City of Glass from the same site - I buy a few things from Videouniverse - but they've done a poor job of sampling the tracks - the bit-rate is probably too low and they've selected just chunks rather than passages that really represent the works.

Anyway, one would have to be a diehard contemporary fan to get on with such works - the Rite is a walk in the park by comparison!!!

bests,
Reith

[Whataguy!]

Reith, I knew (and played with) people who played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra when the Duke was alive. They said he spoke with the classical composers of his time (Copeland, Bernstein, Milhaud) as an equal. But I'm rambling... Do a google search on Duke Ellington and you'll find he wrote many classical and crossover pieces. In fact, check out this site:

http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homes...ington.html#12

Oh, and another thing about the Duke — He could swing his a__ off.

[ascottk]

One piece that comes to mind is Trumpet Blues and Cantibile by Harry James. I used this piece for the opening music in Mary Chase's "Harvey" when I was doing sound design for college theater

[Boneman]

Check out The Sauter Finnegan Orchestra sometime. I have done a search and found there were many Straight and Jazz players and singers in it. It was quite a big band in the literal sence of the word and the two guys came from a big band background.

[Tsax]

Miles Davis recorded some very beautiful jazz/classical crossover. The one that most obviously springs to mind is Sketches of Spain, but also his recording of Porgy and Bess, and Birth of the Cool contains a fairly large orchestrated band

[Boneman]

Originally Posted by ascottk

One piece that comes to mind is Trumpet Blues and Cantibile by Harry James. I used this piece for the opening music in Mary Chase's "Harvey" when I was doing sound design for college theater

Was that Harvey the big white rabbit?

[Thorolf]

I must bring your attention to the record company Ninja Tune’s release Slightly Askew by Alto Sax ++ Player and Composer Chris Bowden.

A clip from the 13:34 long Only Angst should wet your apetite, but the clip is only 0:30 long.



Regards