Uri Caine Plays Mozart

by Uri Caine

Overview

Few jazz performers have been as successful in applying their improvisational chops to the work of revered classical composers as this Philadelphia born pianist Uri Caine, whose catalog over the years has included homages to everyone from Herbie Hancock and Thelonious Monk to the songs of Tin Pan Alley and more recently, Mahler, Wagner, Bach, Beethoven and Schumann. His current ensemble, which features violinist Joyce Hammann, clarinetist Chris Speed, trumpeter Ralph Alessi, electric guitarist Nguyen Le, and DJ Olive on turntables, takes Mozart out of his own century and puts him into an experimental jazz crazy house circa 2007 -- a time travel experience that is partially eloquent and recognizably beautiful (Piano Sonata in C Major) and at times disorienting, hauntingly strange and overly chaotic (Symphony 40 in G Minor). Some tracks like Symphony 41 in C Major fuse Mozart's inherent lyricism with trippy ambient textures and unexpected textures like rock guitar. Arranged around three solo piano sonatas that act as bookends and an intermission of sorts, the album swings mercurially from mood, paying strict homage at times but also reminding the listener that centuries have passed and it's time for new twists on the sacred. One's enjoyment will depend solely on his or her passion for tradition, but overall, for the adventurous, Plays Mozart is worth at least one test spin. ~ Jonathan Widran

Product Details

Release Date:	02/13/2007
Label:	Winter & Winter
UPC:	0025091013029
Rank:	181564

Tracks

1. Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major ("Sonata semplice") K. 545~First Movement
2. Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550~First Movement
3. Symphony No. 41 in C major ("Jupiter"), K. 551~Second Movement
4. Clarinet Quintet in A major ("Stadler"), K. 581~Fourth Movement
5. Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major ("Sonata semplice") K. 545~Second movement
6. Sinfonia concertante for violin, viola & orchestra in E flat major, K. 364 (K. 320d)~Third movement
7. Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527~Act 1. Aria. Batti, batti, o bel Masetto
8. Die Zauberfl¿¿te (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620~Act 1. Duet. Bei m¿¿nnern, welche Liebe f¿¿hlen / Act 1. Aria. Der H¿¿lle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen
9. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major ("Alla Turca") K. 331 (K. 300i)~Turkish rondo
10. Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major ("Sonata semplice") K. 545~Third movement

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Uri Caine   Primary Artist,Piano,Ensemble
Joyce Hammann   Violin
Chris Speed   Clarinet
Ralph Alessi   Trumpet
Nguyen Le   Guitar (Electric)
DJ Olive   Turntables
Drew Gress   Double Bass
Jim Black   Drums
Uri Caine Ensemble   Ensemble

Technical Credits

Lori Lorenzen   Mixing Engineer,Digital Editing,Mastering,Remixing
Erik van Willigen   Sound Technician,Sound Technician
Adrian von Ripka   Engineer,Digital Editing,Mixing Engineer
Mariko Takahashi   Executive Producer
Uri Caine   Adaptation,Arranger
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart   Composer
Stefan Winter   Producer,Executive Producer