Improvising the Russian Classical Composers: Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Borodin

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Russia's contribution to the arts over the past couple of centuries has been extraordinary and unparalleled. Russian authors are among the greatest writers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Russia is synonymous with classical ballet and Russian composers transformed classical music.

In the 19th century, Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Alexander Borodin and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky created timeless works ripe for jazz interpretation. In this hour of Jazz Connections, you will hear jazz musicians transform iconic Russian masterpieces into vehicles for improvisation.

Sonny Rollins tackled the theme from Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony, while Frank Wess and JD Allen interpreted music from Borodin. Ron Carter, Dick Hyman and Duke Ellington put their stamp on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Tim Kliphuis, Frank Vignola and Trio X from Sweden re-imagined Mussorgsky's famous compositions.

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