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Russo: Street Music; Gershwin / Ozawa, Corky Siegel, Et Al


Release Date: 07/16/2002 
Label:  Dg The Originals Catalog #: 463665   Spars Code: ADD 
Composer:  William Russo,  George Gershwin
Performer:  Corky Siegel,  Jim Schwall,  Al Radford,  Shelly Plotkin
Conductor:  Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:  San Francisco Symphony Orchestra,  The Siegel-Schwall Band
Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 1 Hours 14 Mins. 

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This CD is reissued by ArkivMusic.

Notes and Editorial Reviews

It might seem odd to pair this suave Gershwin classic with the rough-hewn music of William Russo, but the audio-tourism of An American in Paris is certainly a forerunner (along with Duke Ellington's Harlem) to Street Music. Russo's work, subtitled "A Blues Concerto", forms a sort of ethno-musical travelogue in which the tourist, guided by Corky Siegel's ubiquitous harmonica and piano, encounters disparate styles ranging from Greek to Asian to Deep South blues, all against a symphonic (and initially Brahmsian) backdrop. Actually, the briny timbre of Siegel's solos often clashes rudely with that of the other "street musicians", which creates a compelling sonic drama.


In contrast to the dovetailing Read more sections of Street Music, Three Pieces for Blues Band and Orchestra are self-contained entities. Russo's striking combination of blues band (harmonica, guitar, bass, and drums) and symphonic ensemble vividly recreates the sound world of those 1970s action movies starring Burt Reynolds and Charles Bronson. Seiji Ozawa pulls off both pieces brilliantly by getting the San Francisco players to let loose and really get into the groove.


In this company it's striking just how European Gershwin's American in Paris sounds--the bluesy trumpet solo is about the only passage certifiably made in the USA. But never mind; Ozawa plays this busy, swinging music with great style and panache, reminding us once again just what an electrifying work this must have been when new. DG's remastered recordings sound newly minted and do an excellent job of balancing the soloists (even the electric guitar and bass) in realistic perspective with the orchestra.
--Victor Carr Jr, ClassicsToday.com Read less

Works on This Recording

1. Pieces (3) for Blues Band and Orchestra, Op. 50 by William Russo
Performer:  Corky Siegel (Harmonica), Jim Schwall (Guitar), Al Radford (Double Bass),
Corky Siegel (Electric Piano), Shelly Plotkin (Drums)
Conductor:  Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:  San Francisco Symphony Orchestra,  The Siegel-Schwall Band
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1960; USA 
 Length: 24 Minutes 17 Secs. 
2. Street Music, Op. 65 by William Russo
Performer:  Corky Siegel (Piano), Corky Siegel (Harmonica)
Conductor:  Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:  San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1976; USA 
 Length: 31 Minutes 18 Secs. 
3. An American in Paris by George Gershwin
Conductor:  Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:  San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1928; USA 
 Length: 18 Minutes 3 Secs. 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 1 Customer Review )
 Chicago Rules! April 17, 2012 By Carole McMahon (Evanston, IL) See All My Reviews "I have always wanted a copy of this recording, having heard it only once on the radio! The music feels so Chicago, with its sounds of L-trains, cars, trucks and construction noise." Report Abuse
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