The Roaring Twenties

by Cora Burggraaf, Calefax

Overview

There are quite a few European recordings of American popular song of the 1920s, several of which even juxtapose American songs with their European classical imitators. This release by the Dutch wind quintet Calefax has a distinct take on the idea, with sharp, spiky wind arrangements by bass clarinetist Jelte Althuis and alto saxophonist Raaf Hekkema that further emphasize the connections between the American and European repertories. The album is at its best when these arrangements are showcased: the suite from Kurt Weill's Dreigroschenoper (Threepenny Opera) and that from Gershwin's An American in Paris, both by Hekkema, are ingenious constructions that weave together highlights from each work. The voice of mezzo-soprano Cora Burggraaf, variously channeling Josephine Baker, more bombastic American song, and German singers of the day, is versatile. For this writer it did not all come together, but your mileage (or kilometers per liter) may vary. Channel Classics gets impressively clean audiophile sound out of the Evangelisch Lutherse Kerk in Haarlem. Recommended for those who like the dry Dutch attitude toward American song. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	01/13/2015
Label:	Challenge Classics
UPC:	0608917265729
Rank:	23294

Tracks

1. Breezin' Along with the Breeze
2. Sentimental Melody
3. Cabaret Songs~Tell Me the Truth About Love
4. Cabaret Songs~Funeral Blues
5. Cabaret Songs~Johnny
6. Cabaret Songs~Calypso
7. Dreigroschensuite~Ouverture
8. Dreigroschensuite~Moritat von Mackie Messer
9. Dreigroschensuite~Seer¿¿uber Jenny
10. Dreigroschensuite~Zuh¿¿lterballade
11. Dreigroschensuite~Finale
12. La petite tonkinoise
13. Youkali
14. An American in Paris~Allegretto grazioso
15. An American in Paris~Andante ma con ritmo deciso
16. An American in Paris~Allegro
17. Surabaya Johnny

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cora Burggraaf   Primary Artist,Mezzo-Soprano (Vocal)
Calefax   Primary Artist,Ensemble

Technical Credits

Vincent Scotto   Text,Composer
George Gershwin   Composer
Richard A. Whiting   Composer
Haven Gillespie   Composer
Kurt Weill   Composer
Aaron Copland   Composer
Benjamin Britten   Composer
Roger Fernay   Text
Marco Borggreve   Cover Photo
Marcel van den Broek   A&R,Art Direction
Wystan Hugh Auden   Text
Annelies van der Vegt   Photography
Bert van der Wolf   Editing,Engineer,Mastering,Recording Producer
Henri Christine   Text
Jelte Althuis   Arranger
Jonathan Reeder   Liner Note Translation
Anne de Jong   A&R
Raaf Hekkema   Arranger,Liner Notes
Juan Carlos Villarroel   Cover Design
Brendon Heinst   Recording Assistant
Sarina Pfiffi   Booklet Editor
Natasja Wallenburg   Graphic Design
Boudewijn Hagemans   Production Coordination
Georges Lascombe   Text
Eugene Poncin   Text
Seymour Simons   Composer
Bertolt Brecht   Text