Creation

by Branford Marsalis

Overview

Branford Marsalis' second classical album -- released a yawning 15 years after his first -- is a far more successful project than its predecessor, dwelling entirely within the world of French music of the 20th century. Thankfully, Marsalis doesn't have to rely too heavily upon transcriptions this time, choosing interesting, stimulating, often jazz-influenced works with a genuine saxophone part, and he has the expert backing of New York City's Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, who doesn't use a conductor and doesn't need one. For Marsalis' fans, this album is also a rare opportunity to hear him on alto saxophone, along with soprano, and like his brother, Wynton, Branford Marsalis plays entirely and knowingly within the classical style, with one pardonable exception noted below. The CD begins deceptively with some Ronnie Bauch transcriptions of pastoral standard stuff by Satie, Debussy, and Ravel, but then veers into the authentically orchestrated strains of Milhaud's juxtapositions of melancholy and whoop-de-do hijinks, "La Creation Du Monde," which has a prominent part for alto saxophone. It's a fine rendition, too, well-paced, very polished and urbane, yet sufficiently raucous -- if not ideally swinging -- in the jazzy stretches. Listeners also get Milhaud's own version of the flippant "Scaramouche Suite" for alto saxophone and orchestra, which receives a performance filled with refinement and sass, and Ibert's delightful, neo-classical "Concertino Da Camera for Alto Saxophone" and "Orchestra," where Marsalis improvises his own cadenza with some of the post-bop fire that he displays in jazz. Sprinkled around the big works by Milhaud and Ibert are four excerpts from Milhaud's "Saudades do Brasil," performed by Orpheus with a detailed awareness of the music's swaying polytonal intricacies. A winner from Marsalis, sumptuously recorded and proof that good things can come from those who wait. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Product Details

Release Date:	03/06/2001
Label:	Sony Classical
UPC:	0696998925120
Rank:	112883

Tracks

1. Gymnopedie for piano No. 3
2. The Little Shepherd, for piano (Children's Corner No. 5), L. 113/5
3. Pavane pour une infante d¿¿funte, for piano (or orchestra)
4. La cr¿¿ation du monde, ballet for orchestra, Op. 81~Excerpts
5. Requiem, for 2 solo voices, chorus, organ & orchestra, Op. 48~Pie Jesu
6. Saudades do Brasil (12), suite of dances for piano, Op. 67~No. 1 Sorocaba
7. Scaramouche (3), suite for saxophone & orchestra (or piano), Op. 165c~I. Vif
8. Scaramouche (3), suite for saxophone & orchestra (or piano), Op. 165c~II. Mod¿¿r¿¿
9. Scaramouche (3), suite for saxophone & orchestra (or piano), Op. 165c~III. Brazilei
10. Saudades do Brasil (12), suite of dances for orchestra, Op. 67b~No. 7, Corovado
11. Saudades do Brasil (12), suite of dances for piano, Op. 67~No. 9 Sumar¿¿
12. Concertino da camera, for alto saxophone & 11 instruments~ I. Allegro con M
13. Concertino da camera, for alto saxophone & 11 instruments~II. Larghetto
14. Concertino da camera, for alto saxophone & 11 instruments~III. Animato Mol
15. Saudades do Brasil (12), suite of dances for piano, Op. 67~No. 11 Laranjeiros
16. Golliwogg's Cakewalk, for piano (Children's Corner No. 6), L. 113/6

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Branford Marsalis   Primary Artist,Sax (Soprano),Sax (Alto),Saxophone
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra

Technical Credits

Tom Mowrey   Producer
Gabriel Faure   Composer
Erik Satie   Composer
Claude Debussy   Composer
Jacques Ibert   Composer
Maurice Ravel   Composer
Jen Wyler   Assistant Engineer
Darius Milhaud   Composer
Josef Astor   Photography
Giulio Turturro   Art Direction,Package Design
Billy Rothschild   Technical Supervisor
Rafi Zabor   Liner Notes
Ronnie Bauch   Arranger
Arnold Levine   Art Direction
Laura Kszan   Editorial Production
Charles Harbutt   Post Production Engineer,Engineer
Ellen Fitton   Editing