Recently Heard: Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano

[ellyssian]

Claude Bolling: Suite for Flute & Jazz Piano Trio

I expect I first heard this in 1976 very shortly after it was first released. I think my dad bought a copy for patrixa, who tended to listen to it, and thus it became a part of my musical heritage. It's funny how, listening to it now for the first time in maybe 15 years, maybe more, the melody is so familiar - Jean-Pierre Rampal's flute playing, dancing around flightily over the piano trio of Bolling, Max Hediguer, and Marcel Sabiani. Even though I recognized that this music was meaningful to me when I first put this on my wish list (birthday's coming up, subtle hint-hint! =), I didn't realize until now that this is probably where my interest in the traditional jazz trio came from. I know I really enjoyed the rare trio performing at Musikfest, and was certainly disappointed when I couldn't find one, but I hadn't really thought about where I picked up on them before. As a bass player, I've been focusing on them more - as a guitar player, I wanted to turn it into a quartet or kick the pianist out, but now I'm quite satisfied with them.

This disc is considered by many to be the first classical crossover - something quite popular now, in fact possibly the only popular classical music out these days is that which is done with a hip hop beat or what have you. Jean-Pierre sticks with the classical themes, while the jazz crew does there thing and it blends so well. Folks who like Ian Anderson's flute noodlings over blues (as in Tull's Bach's Bouree) might find something similar here, albeit without all the overblowing and effects.

This is great music to sit and listen to on a quiet Sunday morning, or to have as a background soundtrack for a dinner party or other event. Of course, to top it off, there's also the highly suggestive cover, with the flute in bed with piano, with the flute contentedly blowing smoke rings...

Comments

My mother loved that piece.

[thenea.livejournal.com]

I probably know it by heart since she played it so much when I was a kid.

Re: My mother loved that piece.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing - based on the sales figures from its initial release - there are a lot more kids across the country with an experience similar to ours.

I found out he did a few other similar pieces, and I'm looking forward to trying out the one he did with classical guitar.