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  | OVER THE HILLS ~ ESCALATOR OVER THE HILL
IMR 008 (Barcode: 3426300098870) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015
This is an album by French Jazz nonet called Over The HillsFind albums by this artist, co-led by bassist Bernard SantacruzFind albums by this artist and drummer Bruno TocanneFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, it is a remake of the iconic Jazz opera “Escalator Over The HillFind albums with this title”, composed by Carla BleyFind albums by this artist with libretto by Paul HinesFind albums by this artist, originally released in 1971. The album presents ten tracks, all composed by Bley and included in the original version of the opera (but appearing in a different order), arranged by members of the nonet.
The original recording of “Escalator Over The Hill” took three years and included some of the greatest talents on the international music scene, like bassist / vocalist Jack BruceFind albums by this artist, guitarist John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist, vocalists Jeanne LeeFind albums by this artist, Sheila JordanFind albums by this artist and Linda RonstadtFind albums by this artist and many, many others. It was a true spiritual experience, with an Avant-Garde concept and attitude at the helm, reflecting the wonderful atmosphere of freedom that the Arts enjoyed at this period of human Artistic apogee, perhaps the last, surely the last so far.
This remake, recorded forty-five years later, reflects some of the power of the original music, but fails to rekindle the drama and shocking innovation of the original delivery. It is simply way to well organized and beautified / smoothed up in comparison, at least to me. The somewhat hectic, disorganized aura of the original is lost here completely in favor of coherent orchestral arrangements, which are all very skillful of course.
But of course the brilliant music by Bley is still here, and the performances are all first class, creating a very enjoyable listening experience. If any younger listeners are about to discover the original opera thanks to this recording, all is well and the effort was worthwhile. This album is definitely worth being discovered just a token of appreciation for the heroic effort involved in this undertaking.
| | Updated: 31/08/2021Posted: 31/08/2021 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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