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Album Review

The Vienna Art Orchestra: Duke Ellington's Sound of Love

by Jack Bowers
April 12, 2002

Whenever the word “art” precedes the word “orchestra,” as in Vienna Art Orchestra, the perceptive listener may suspect that he or she could be in for a rather bumpy ride. Not to worry. The VAO has addressed itself here to the music of Duke Ellington and his alter–ego, Billy Strayhorn, which is not only pleasing to most ears but flattens the landscape so as to reduce the frequency and impact of any obstacles in the road. Sound of Love, recorded ...

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Album Review

The Vienna Art Orchestra: Artistry in Rhythm: A European Suite

by Jack Bowers
July 1, 2001

The concept that animates the Vienna Art Orchestra’s Artistry in Rhythm is fifteen variations on a single tempo dedicated to as many European capital cities. It’s an intriguing idea, but intriguing ideas are sometimes more successful on paper than in practice. In this case we have a rather mixed bag with some high spots and others not quite as high. The European Suite was written by composer / arranger and VAO leader Mathias Rüegg and is performed seamlessly in concert; ...