[78-L] Al Gallodoro plays Gershwin

[Cary Ginell]

Just got this notice from Steven Richman:


Gershwin by Grofé: Symphonic Jazz
Harmonie Ensemble New York/Steven 
Richman, with Lincoln Mayorga (piano) and Al Gallodoro (saxophone and 
clarinet) (Harmonia Mundi)

Skip to the end - Rhapsody in Blue 
- and you’re assailed by a clarinet solo of such oomph and panache, the 
klezmer-like wailings sounding like a ghost from the past. It’s startling, 
brilliant, and brings tears to the eyes. And then you read the sleeve notes and 
find out that the soloist Al Gallodoro was a member of the Paul Whiteman band in 
1930s New York, the same ensemble which premiered the work in 1924. Sadly 
Gallodoro died two years after recording this account of the Rhapsody, 
aged 95. The piece is more often heard in the rather bloated full orchestral 
version orchestrated by Ferde Grofé, but here we get his original jazz band 
version. Leaner, meaner and tighter-sounding, it packs an effervescent punch 
here, helped by a close-up recording balance and some idiomatic banjo-twanging. 
There are so many moments where you want to jump up and cheer, my favourite 
being the lower brass chord change accompanying the violin solo after the big 
tune in the middle. This disc would be worth buying for the Rhapsody 
alone, but we also get original Paul Whiteman Orchestra versions of Gershwin 
standards, and the composer’s own orchestration of the quirky, underrated “I 
Got Rhythm” Variations. Playing and direction are faultless, with marvellous 
piano playing from Lincoln Mayorga. As a novelty bonus, one track is duplicated, 
recorded on a 1909 Edison wax cylinder. Find on Amazon <http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gershwin-Grofe-Symphonic-Harmonie-Ensemble/dp/B0031B7EOU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1274107529&sr=1-1> 

Al Galladoro and Lincoln Mayorga on YouTube
http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1546:classical-music-cds-round-up-8&Itemid=27


Cary Ginell
 		 	   		  
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