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I didn't like this album

Timothy Nelms | 01/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After listening to 'Play Tchaikovsky' you will become aware that the above statement is not and could not possibly be true, as it is, in fact, impossible to dislike this album. The title doesn't mention it, but all the tunes are from 'The Nutcracker', and they are, further, the most well-known pieces from 'The Nutcracker', but the fact that you've heard these all a thousand times before only makes these renditions more endearing -- well, it made them more endearing to me, anyway. This might just mean I have no taste, but I am not interested in considering that possibility.



Many of the pieces chosen here are also represented on Duke Ellington's 'Three Suites' album, but the CJQ's treatment is markedly different; generally speaking, the quartet will use a particular melody to create an appropriate texture, and then play more or less traditional solos. The Sugar-Plum Fairy's dance ends up sounding remarkably similar to John Lewis' 'Django'; the jaunty Dance of the Reeds is almost unrecognizable at the beginning, transformed into a beautifully meditative piece featuring some particularly poignant piano work from Kenny Barron; but this only lasts until about the halfway point, when the Reeds' secondary melody is introduced, eventually leading to something akin to Bobby Hutcherson's Latin-tinged work.



Their version of the Chinese Dance ('Tea'), however -- I will admit -- is infinitely inferior to Ellington's, not that it would have been possible to surpass it."

Doesn't Really Sound Like Tchaikovsky, But Is Still A Great

J. Rich | 12/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a supergroup of jazz musicians: Kenny Barron on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Stefon Harris on vibraphone, and Lewis Nash on drums....need I say more?



This album swings like mad and is a great alternative to the Modern Jazz Quartet. I own all the Classical Jazz Quartet albums, but I felt I had to review at least one of their albums.



I will also say that these jazz interpretations of classical music don't really work. They sound like jazz tunes not classical, but perhaps that's the whole point? I'm not sure, but whatever this is supposed to be it's great and worth acquiring as is all of their albums.



Highly recommended."