A HIP RE-VISITIATION…Claude Bolling: Suite For Flute & Jazz Piano

Yes, once upon a time jazz made some daring music. Here, you’ve got  jazz pianist/composer Claude Bolling returning to his classic  1975 album of combining classical sounds  with the added sounds of  small symphony, as well as  this time  along with jazz flutest Hubie Laws (instead of Jean -Pierre Rampal) and a hit trio of Jeffery Biegel/p, Mike Valerio/b and Michael Shapiro/dr. Arranged cleverly by Steve Barta, this album (which in the original small group format was a big hit back when Ford was President ) still sounds amazingly fresh with the new arrangements and not dated at all in it’s original intent. Wonderful segues of Bach-like chords and indigo hues make merriment on”Baroque & Blue” and strings dance around the peppy piano with delight on “ Javanise.” Laws’ flute caresses the melody with Biegel on”Fugace”  and is delightfully dainty on “Versatile.” Balerio and Biegel will charm your socks off on  “Veloce” and Laws digs in deep with Shapiro on “Irlandaise.” Few arts from the 70s have aged well, but this one that is retouched is a surprise ringer.

www.stevebartamusic.com

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