Uri Caine, like many other
jazz players, has a fairly solid background in
classical music. Unlike many
jazz players, he has found a way to successfully work in the
classical repertoire while using improvisation and love of a variety of musical styles he came by as a
jazz player. To that end,
Caine has released a handful of stunningly original albums covering the music of
Mahler,
Schumann,
Bach, and
Wagner. While
Caine's critically acclaimed
Mahler (
Urlicht/Primal Light) and
Bach (
Goldberg Variations) discs have featured him, at times, radically reworking the material, this fine
Wagner program finds the pianist sticking mostly to the original scores. And even though the occasional drum machine and DJ treatment heard on other discs are not present,
Caine does include an accordion and double bass to the basic quartet of two violins, cello, and piano. Recorded live in Venice at the
Piazza San Marco,
Wagner e Venezia takes in the overtures from
Die Meistersinger,
Lohengrin, and
Tannhaueser, as well as the
"Liebestod" from
Tristan und Isolde. For the most part, the music moves at a lithe pace, matching the festive sounds of the crowd with exuberant and playful performances. Maybe not the right fit for
classical purists, but certainly a fine offering for the adventurous listener. ~ Stephen Cook
![A Family Christmas [Deluxe Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0602458241631_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "A Family Christmas [Deluxe Edition]")
![Under One Sky [Deluxe Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0602547296337_p0_v3_s90x140.jpg "Under One Sky [Deluxe Edition]")
