Sunday, September 14, 2003

Records are rated on a scale of one (poor) to four (excellent) stars.

Classical

BRUCH AND MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concertos. Midori, with the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Mariss Jansons. Sony Classical.

Why another recording of two of the most frequently recorded concertos? The fact is that these new performances by violinist Midori, recorded with conductor Mariss Jansons at Berlin Philharmonic concerts, are about as satisfying as any we're likely to hear. Soloist and conductor are top-level artists in their prime and as for the Berlin Phil ... well, it's the team to beat.

Add to this the fact that Sony's sonics are state of the art, and even the most blase music lover may want to add it to his or her collection.

Midori plays the Mendelssohn concerto with a naturalness that makes it seem as if she is composing the music as she goes along. Moreover, she can make the listener believe she's having fun playing it.

Jansons emphasizes classic restraint while accompanying and, when the orchestra has a chance to come into its own, exploits the colors and virtuosity of these incomparable players. The same qualities apply to a large degree in Bruch's Concerto No. 1 (Op. 26) -- a lesser piece, but one that allows the soloist to emerge more as an individual.

-- Robert Croan

Jazz

DAVE ELLIS: "State of Mind." Milestone.

Sometimes it takes an astute and influential producer such as jazz's Orrin Keepnews to bring attention to a little known but talented musician. Such is the case with tenor saxophonist Dave Ellis.

A fixture on the San Francisco Bay-area jazz scene, Ellis, while not a groundbreaker, is a polished player, whose sound and style, as Keepnews notes, bring to mind a number of saxmen, past and present. It is this seamless combination of older (re: swing and be-bop) and contemporary (post-bop and a touch of avant) styles that make Ellis so appealing.

Aside from Ellis, pianist Mulgrew Miller is the album stealer. He anchors two excellent rhythm sections divided equally on the CD's 10 tunes: Bassists Peter Washington and Christian McBride, with drummers Carl Allen and Lewis Nash, respectively. Alto saxophonist Vincent Herring is heard on three numbers.

Ellis contributes two interesting compositions, a medium-tempo opener called "Not That You Asked," on which he is at his most Coltrane-inspired, and a funky shuffle blues, titled "Isabella Blue." Otherwise, we hear familiar songs by some of the giants, among them Ellington's and Strayhorn's too-often-neglected "Something to Live For"; Coltrane's "Grand Central"; Horace Silver's moving (and timely) "Peace."

There's a pleasant surprise in the lovely and powerful "Sunshowers" by bassist Clint Houston.This more than offsets the lone disappointment, an ill-conceived arrangement of Gershwin's classic "Summertime."

All in all, "State of Mind" stamps Ellis as a saxist to watch.

-- Bob Protzman

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