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The Dutch Jazz Orchestra: Something to Live For: The Music of Billy Strayhorn
ByStrayhorn wrote “Everything Is Copasetic!” [sic] in 1962 for one of the annual shows presented by the Copasetics, a group of professional tap-dancers that he supervised, and “Wrong Side of the Railroad Tracks” for another show, Beggar’s Holiday. The other pieces, all of which were written for the Duke Ellington Orchestra, include the well-known “Chelsea Bridge” and “Pretty Girl,” presented in their unabridged form, the restful “Day Dream,” and world premieres of “Hipper-Bug,” “Blue House,” “Hip” and the 1942 arrangement of “Something to Live For,” featuring tenor saxophonist Toon Roos.
As on the other albums in the series, the DJO is letter-perfect, transcribing Strayhorn’s music with remarkable empathy and awareness. Soloists are excellent, with pianist Rob van Bavel showcased on “Fantastic Rhythm” and “Sprite Music” (both unaccompanied), clarinetist John Ruocco on “Everything Is Copasetic!,” trumpeter Mike Booth on “Hip,” alto saxophonist Albert Beltman on “Pretty Girl.” Roos is heard again with trombonist Martijn Sohier on “Blue House,” flugel Ack van Rooyen on “Hipper-Bug,” trombonist Hansjörg Fink and baritone Nils van Haften on “Chelsea Bridge.” There are half a dozen vocals by marvelous Marjorie Barnes, the best singer I’ve heard with any band in recent memory, and she’s outstanding on every one of them.
Fans of good music in general and jazz in particular are indebted to musicologist and Strayhorn scholar Walter van de Leur for painstakingly canvassing the composer’s voluminous library to uncover so many wonderful treasuresand to the Dutch Jazz Orchestra and conductor Jerry van Rooyen for making them available in such handsomely recorded new versions.
Contact: Challenge Record Services, P. O. Box 540, 6800 AM Arnhem, The Netherlands (www.challenge.nl); Allegro Music, 14134 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230–3443; 800–288– 2007; e–mail mailcs@allegro–music.com
Track Listing
Fantastic Rhythm; A Penthouse on Shady Avenue; Let Nature Take Its Course; Something to Live For; Everything Is Copasetic!; Day Dream; Hip; Blue House; Sprite Music; The Flowers Die of Love; Love, Love; Hipper-Bug; Pretty Girl; Chelsea Bridge; On the Wrong Side of the Railroad Tracks (51:31).
Personnel
Jerry van Rooyen, leader; Ack van Rooyen, trumpet, flugelhorn; Jan Oosthof, Ruud Breuls, Peter van Soest, Erik Veldkamp, Mike Booth, trumpet; Martijn Sohier, Ilja Reijngoud, Hansj
Album information
Title: Something to Live For: The Music of Billy Strayhorn | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Challenge Records
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