Swingin Bach - Bobby McFerrin and Guests
Recorded live at the Market Square, Leipzig, 28 July 2000
Bach meets Jazz! On the 250th anniversary of the Bach’s death, international musicians from the world of jazz and classical music assembled in the Marktplatz (“market place”) in Leipzig to celebrate the great master.
The names of the performers who appear could hardly be surpassed. World-famous musicians from both genres, including Bobby McFerrin, the Jacques Loussier Trio, the King’s Singers, Gil Shaham & Adele Anthony, the Turtle Island String Quartet and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig joined forces on this memorable day in the town Bach worked and died.
This concert is dedicated to the proposition that the music of Bach “is still vital, is still contemporary, and is still very much universal.” It proves its point resoundingly in one of the most enjoyable crossover programs ever recorded.
The concert started about 10:30 at night and lasted until 1AM. And rain or not, it didn't look like anyone left. The audience was considerably younger than one would see at a typical classical music or even a typical jazz concert.
Featured are 12 groups of different genres, all playing Bach pieces or variations on Bach pieces. The German Brass and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, directed by Christian Gansch, are followed by a jazz interpretation of "Fugue No. 5 in D Minor" by the Jacques Loussier Trio, then another Bach Concerto and Fugue by the Leipzig orchestra and the German Brass. Then comes one of our favorite pieces, Bobby McFerrin with the G. Leipzig, doing a wonderful faux (violin?) lead on "Orchestra Suite No. 3 in D Minor," followed by more German Brass, G. Leipzig and some nice pieces by two quintets, the Quintessence Saxophone Quintet and Turtle Island String Quintet. Another of our favorites follows, The King' Singers with a brilliant a cappella medley of Bach samples, "Deconstructing Johann," with their own very funny added lyrics, which we would like to see written down so we could appreciate them more. Quite a few added features follow, our favorites being "Improvisation on "Wachet auf ruft uns de Stimme," featuring Bobby with the Loussier Trio, and a piece with Bobby and the G. Leipzig where he goes into one of his standard concert improvisational vocal riffs. "Swinging" is an amazing event with some particularly nice work by McFerrin and the King' Singers.
Temas
1.- Concerto in D Major, BWV 972, 1st Movement, Allegro (German Brass)
2.- Orchestra Suite No. 1 in C Major, BWV 1066, Bouree I/II (Gewandhausorchester Leipsig, Christian Gansch
3.- Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850, from "The Well-Tempered Clavier" (Jacques Loussier Trio)
4.- Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043, Vivace (Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Christian Gansch)
5.- Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 (German Brass)
6.- Orchestra Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068, Air (Bobby McFerrin, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig)
7.- Concerto in D Major, BWV 972, 3rd Movement, Allegro (German Brass)
8.- Fudge Fugue in G Minor (Quintessence Saxaphone Quintet)
9.- Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043, Allegro (Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Christian Gansch)
10.- "Bach's Lunch," Variations on Themes by J.S. Bach (Turtle Island String Quartet)
11.- Snow What (Turtle Island String Quartet)
12.- Deconstructing Johann (King's Singers)
13.- Improvisation on "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" (Bobby McFerrin/Jacques Loussier Trio)
14.- Orchestra suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068, Gavotte (Jacques Loussier Trio)
15.- "Tocatta & Funk & Choral" (Quintessence Saxophone Quintet)
16.- "Seven Steps to Bach" J.S. Bach/Miles Davies (Turtle Island String Quartet)
17.- Orchestra Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067, Menuet/Badinerie (Jiri Stivin/Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Christian Gansch)
18.- "Jazz Medley," Part A (Jiri Stivin & Collegium Quodlibet)
19.- "Jazz Medley," Part B (Jiri Stivin & Collegium Quodlibet)
20.- "Improvisation" (Bobby McFerrin) Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, BWV 1054, Allegro (Jacques Loussier Trio)
21.- Orchestra Suite no. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068, Gigue; End Credits
The groups and artists included:
Bobby McFerrin
The King's Singers
German Brass
Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony, violinists
The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under Christian Gansch
Jacques Loussier Trio
Quintessence Saxophone Quintet
Turtle Island String Quartet
Jiri Stivin, flutist, and Collegium Quodlibet
