"This has to be the most raucous, the most bluesy, the most improvisational Rhapsody in Blue ever recorded. And not all of the best improvisation is by Marcus Roberts. Wailing clarinets and wandering trumpets abound. And it is all in a spirit of the original, so much so that I believe jazz-loving Gershwin would have approved.All of Gershwin's original music is there, but much of it is taken at unusual tempos -- speeded up, slowed down or synchopated -- with many additional minutes of improvisation that actually fit with the original. I'm usually a traditionalist, so I wasn't sure I really wanted to hear a 28-minute Rhapsody in Blue, figuring it probably had a lot of filler. It doesn't. This is music that makes me smile.Oh yes, there are also two additional pieces, which are very good. The James P. Johnson piece is NOT stride piano, which threw me for a loop. But it IS a sort of answer to Gershwin's Rhapsody. Written just 3 years after the Gershwin original, it is also a multi-themed bluesy 20-minute mini-symphony. And there are the I Got Rhytm variations, which are catchy and inventive. But Rhapsody is what you're buying here, and it may be the best one I've ever heard."
Old tune with a lot of new invention
Marc Davis | 02/01/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I wasn't expecting to be excited by another version of "Rhapsody" but thought it would be a good way get into Marcus Roberts... This version goes way beyond the classic. Ragtime, swing and a little Kansas City are all packed into this complete remastering. The results not only capture Gershwin's jazz/classical fusion but take the listener on a historical journey through jazz's pre-bebop days. Marcus excels at invention demonstrating continuously his complete mastery of piano influences, tones and colors."
Interesting version
John A. Smith | north fort myers, fl. | 03/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you liked Roberts DVD Gershwin Night with Ozawa and the Berlin Philharmonic you will like this CD. He is a master at improvising. Sound is sharp and clear. Recommended."
This is a great recording
Nicholas Gill | metro Boston | 03/13/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was lucky enough to take a chance on this. I was attracted by a review describing how the Rhapsody takes a strong turn toward jazz while maintaining (in and some ways improving on) the original spirit of the composition. WOW!"
Delicious
Gary Fogelman | New York, NY United States | 12/24/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"That's the first thing I thought when I heard it on Terence McKnight's show on WNYC in NY. I saw this guy play years ago with Wynton at Blues Alley in DC. He was phenomenal live and so is this disc."