Mobtown Modern delivers sizzling jazz version of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring"
For me, much of the fun was discovering how Brenzel managed to preserve the rich flavor of the "Rite," the familiar harmonic tang and rhythmic punch. If anything, he may have taken on too much -- his arrangement is quite longer than the original, adding up to an hour and change. There were a couple times during the performances when I felt the coolness factor starting to wear off, the tautness starting to loosen, but only a couple., and the feeling quickly passed
In the end, this turned out to be high-class jazz (and some rock), a brilliant combination of musical imagination, technical talent and chutzpah.
The Frederick-based Brenzel did not merely transcribe notes from symphony orchestra to a 17-piece ensemble of saxes, trumpets, trombones, guitar, piano, bass and drums to create his "Rite of Swing." He treated the 14 titled passages in Stravinsky's through-composed score as
Several sections, notably "Spring Rounds," "Mystic Circles of the Young Girls" and "Ritual Action of the Elders," really hit the spot. The effect was uncanny, at once fully evocative of the "Rite" we know, and yet totally fresh in color and atmosphere. The very end of the piece -- the unexpected, wispy woodwind solo just before the last whomping chord -- didn't translate so well into the new version; I wanted something with a bit more impact and finality.
But that was a minor thing, especially given all the energy pouring out from the Mobtown Jazz Orchestra. (You might spot those same players in the Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S. Army Field Band. Brenzel, who recently retired from that group, joined in on sax for the "Rite" finale.) There might have been one off-kilter entrance, but the sheer tightness of the playing was still very impressive, the expressive force behind it even more so.
A recording is planned. It should be a knockout.
Meanwhile, all you folks at symphony orchestras worrying about how to engage audiences and liven up concert formats -- here's a pitch: Program the original "Rite of Spring" on the first half, then put Brenzel's version on the second. Such a double-barrel roof-raiser sure sounds awesome to me.
PHOTO BY KRISTIN COOKE
Comments
Thank you so much for those kind words. And the Frederick News Post didn't coin "Re-write of Spring" by the way, that was something I threw their way. So you were beat by the arranger, not the paper. :-)
Oh, good. I feel much better. TIM
Posted by: Darryl Brenzel | May 14, 2010 2:43 PM
I'm sure that I'll be purchasing this recording!
In a similar, equally-impressive vein, be sure to look here:
http://www.ssq.at/en/info_projects.php?l=1#brucknerimpro
for the two items, "Mass Transformation" & "Bruckner V. improvised."
I have the Bruckner 5th recording and LOVE it!!!
Posted by: Doug Halfen | May 15, 2010 10:53 AM
I reviewed this too. Spoiler alert: I also really enjoyed it.
http://dmvclassical.wordpress.com/2010/05/15/mobtown-moderns-the-rite-of-swing-metro-gallery/
I always knew you were a gentleman of great judgment and taste. TIM
Posted by: Andrew Lindemann Malone | May 15, 2010 2:47 PM
There's an old LP by Don Sebesky, with Jon Faddis, where he gives the Rite of Spring the jazz treatment. It's a great idea. I don't know why jazz doesn't raid the classics more regularly.
Posted by: Penny | May 16, 2010 6:26 PM
Re the Sebesky arrangement: Not to take anything away from Don Sebesky, a fabulous arranger, but he did a mere 8 minute arrangement for Hubert Laws on an old CTI record from the seventies. A much smaller group and he basically took a few themes and created a setting for Hubert to shine. A good recording, but not anywhere near doing the entire Rite.
I think the tendency in jazz is to compose one's own tunes, for better or worse. Some really great players are not good writers. Arrangers tend to arrange what they are hired to arrange. More commissions from places like Mobtown Modern could result in more of the classical cannon becoming a part of the jazz cannon. Certainly the music is as rich as Tin Pan Alley, a source or so much jazz rep.
Posted by: Darryl Brenzel | May 17, 2010 10:01 AM