Across the Crystal Sea is the latest chapter in Pérez's extraordinary career as a pianist and bandleader who delivers a distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz that covers the music of the Americas, folkloric and world... more » music. He's not only impressed critics (for example, The New York Times' Ben Ratliff writing that he is "a bold example of the musicological rethinking of jazz"), but also fellow musicians. Wayne Shorter says that Pérez "has all of the attributes of a performer, conductor, impresario and purveyor of musical expression greatly needed in these uncertain times" while Herbie Hancock says that Pérez is "not afraid of anything."« less
Across the Crystal Sea is the latest chapter in Pérez's extraordinary career as a pianist and bandleader who delivers a distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz that covers the music of the Americas, folkloric and world music. He's not only impressed critics (for example, The New York Times' Ben Ratliff writing that he is "a bold example of the musicological rethinking of jazz"), but also fellow musicians. Wayne Shorter says that Pérez "has all of the attributes of a performer, conductor, impresario and purveyor of musical expression greatly needed in these uncertain times" while Herbie Hancock says that Pérez is "not afraid of anything."
"First of all, I'm surprised that nobody has written a review for this album yet. Boy, when you hear it you'll want to own it, let me just get that out of the way.
Danilo Perez is, for those unaware of him, a jazz pianist that has played with way too many jazz greats to list here, but he's paid his dues and has established himself as an intelligent, passionate pianist. He also has that certain Latin feel to some of his lines, which helps to get things cooking.
Here is the lineup for this record:
Danilo Perez - Piano
Christian McBride - Bass
Lewis Nash - Drum
Luis Quintero - Percussion
Cassandra Wilson - Vocal (on two tracks)
All arrangements by Claus Ogerman who's arranging talents can be heard from the late, great Bill Evans, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Diana Krall, amongst others. He does a brilliant job with the string sections, which once you hear them you'll see why he's one of the best arrangers out there today.
The music on this recording is pure musical bliss. Anyone interested in jazz piano trio with string arrangements then look no further. Pick this one up today!
"
Encore
David J. Engel | Bethesda, MD USA | 11/07/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What a great recording! When I got this, a couple of months ago when it first came out, I almost cried when I played it. It was so like another favorite of mine, the Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra recording. Finally. Danilo's playing and Ogerman's arranging/conducting are superb. This is not to be missed. And if you like this you may also want to pick up The Gary McFarland Orchestra with Special Guest Soloist: Bill Evans, Bill Evans: Symbiosis with Eddie Gomez, Claus Ogerman - Two Concertos, Gary McFarland's soundtrack to The Eye of the Devil, and Gary McFarland with Steve Kuhn on October Suite. Great music!"
Piano, voice and strings
Ann Marinus | Wilrijk, Belgium | 10/28/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My review for this record is simple : MARVELOUS, TOUCHING...There is no weakness, everything is so well balanced, the piano, the orchestra, the voice and of course the arrangements of a real craftsman for many years, Claus Ogerman is a bliss for every musiclover. More of those records and you forget your daily sorrows, believe me."
Very poor cheesy non-jazz, non-modern music
Carlos Schvartzman | Asuncion, Central Paraguay | 12/26/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I have to differ with most of reviewers here. I have just bought this CD. I am a pro jazz composer and arranger, and pianist and classical and jazz music educator. Ogerman has been one of my "teachers" (from listening to and analyzing his arrangements and orchestrations) for a long time. I own both the recording of "Symbiosis" and the full score written by Claus. Quite unfortunately, Danilo Perez *is not* Bill Evans (well, no one could actually be) and is to far away from even getting near him. And Ogerman's orchestrations and arrangements are very, very cheesy, excrutiatingly soft, and mostly Xeroxed from lots of his other previous writings. Danilo is a good performer, but...he does not move me a hair!. His playing is so guts-lacking that sometimes you cannot even understand what he is saying. However, the worst in this recording is Cassandra Wilson: She has lost the very little portion of "voice" she somewhat managed to own at some point (many years ago). She is mostly out of tune, with a trembling and insecure voice with poor diction.
If you really want to know what a jazz soloist with a Symphony sounds like, get right now "Symphonica", with soloist Joe Lovano (tenor sax) playing his own tunes arranged, orchestrated and conducted by superb Mike Abene, with a jazz big-band within a symphonic orchestra. You can also try Stan Gets and Michel Legrand Orchestra, Clark Terry playing ballads with Peter Herbolzheimer conducting his arrangements and orchestrations for full orchestra. And, finally, get *any* (or yet, better, all of them) Jazz and the Symphony saga by Lalo Schifrin and you have real symphonic music there. Otherwise, I will rather listen to Ravel's symphony concerts, Gershwin's, Rachmaninoff's a thousand times more that "Across the Crystal Sea"."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
