by Kevin T McEneaney
The Sherman Chamber Ensemble is not your ordinary ensemble: while it specializes in classical music, it is equally adept at various jazz genres, as well as pop music. The Ensemble septet that performed at St. Andrews Church in Kent, CT, last Sunday afternoon offered an eclectic program of jazz classics, titled Jazzing It Up!
They opened with two tangos by Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) who composed many of the most delightful tangos that originated in Argentinian jails and discovered popular audiences. The beat of Milonga en Re was firmly anchored by Daniel Bailen on double bass. La Muerte del Angel featured the soaring flute of Susan Rotholz and the grounded cello of Eliot Bailen, which melded with the cool upbeat of Ted Rosenthal on piano.
Bijou by drummer Chris Parker was composed at the age of eleven; it is a variation of Bijou à la Bamba by Ralph Burns. Parker’s version was composed for a stripper in a strip club who requested a bamba rhythm for her act, whereby the precocious drummer created his first arrangement!
Composer Ted Rosenthal provided his swinging arrangement of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker suites, Arabian Dances, and the Danse of the Reed Flutes where Susan Rotholz on flute accompanied.
Ted and company jived with two Bud Powell (1924-1966) numbers: Celia, a great (but difficult) piano classic (written for Bud’s daughter), where Susan’s flute delivered a warmer ambiance to Ted’s tinkling keys; in Wail, where the trumpet line was replaced by Susan on flute, the result was a slightly more mellow finish to this hard-driving, wailing classic.
The Pawnbroker by Quincy Jones (who passed away this year) was the 1964 movie theme. Once more Susan’s flute substituted for the trumpet which was fitting because this theme melody was about the character Penelope in that movie. The next three songs were performed by the band BAILEN with Julia Bailen on vocals, Daniel Bailen on bass, and David Bailen on vocals. They sang “Don’t Make Me Over” by Burt Bacharach, “Lady in My Life” by Michael Jackson, and “I Get a Kick Out of You.” This elegant pop interlude received a warm burst of vigorous, appreciative applause.
Wapango by Paquito D’Rivera has been performed by chamber groups and orchestras around the globe. Here the flute has a lead role and Susan sculpted a more energetic interpretation than recordings on the Internet.
For the Finale, Ted’ Rosenthal’s famous piano arrangement of Sunny Side Up was arranged for the whole band. This noted piano piece was expanded from a solo piano to an amicable suite where the lead was passed from Ted to Chris on drums, then to Susan on flute. Mr. Lightning Ted Fingers raced the keys with joyous aplomb!
This concert featured novel arrangements of classic works with tightly unified playing to kick off the pleasant ambiance of the upcoming December holiday spirit.
