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Portraits In Blue

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Download links and information about Portraits In Blue by Marcus Roberts. This album was released in 1995 and it belongs to Jazz genres. It contains 3 tracks with total duration of 01:01:43 minutes.

Artist: Marcus Roberts
Release date: 1995
Genre: Jazz
Tracks: 3
Duration: 01:01:43
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Tracks

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No. Title Length
1. Rhapsody In Blue (Arranged for Jazz Ensemble) (featuring The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Robert Sadin, Orchestra Of St. Luke's) 28:21
2. Yamekraw (Instrumental) (featuring The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Robert Sadin, Orchestra Of St. Luke's) 20:35
3. "I Got Rhythm" Variations (Arranged for Jazz Ensemble) (featuring The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Robert Sadin, Orchestra Of St. Luke's) 12:47

Details

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From the opening measures, it’s clear that pianist Marcus Roberts’ take on George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue goes well outside of Ferde Grof’s beloved orchestration. Banjoist James Chirillo provides an a cappella introduction, playing a short variation on Rhapsody's second theme prior to Ted Nash taking up the familiar siren’s call on clarinet. The instrumentation confirms Roberts’ unique approach: The Orchestra of St. Luke’s and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra are joined by his then-triomates Roland Guerin (contrabass) and Jason Marsalis (drums), as well as second pianist Loston Harris II. There are rearranged passages that recall the great Duke Ellington big-band horn sections and others that evoke a New Orleans second-line parade. Roberts draws on the history of early jazz piano, including stride and proto-gospel styles, when he plays the credenzas on James P. Johnson’s Yamekraw (originally written for Fats Waller) and Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm" Variations.