Jazz-classical fusion at its best
James A. Vedda | Alexandria, VA USA | 01/20/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Can I please have some more stars to award to this album? Orchestra + inspired arrangements + the genius of Eddie Daniels = a fabulous musical experience.
The transitions between the classical and jazz idioms in each selection are smooth, and as usual, Eddie makes it sound easy - one of the marks of a true virtuoso. The opening track, "Solfeggietto/Metamorphosis," sets the tone for the whole album, and Eddie's technical execution is mind-blowing for anyone familiar with clarinet playing. The next four tracks have the string orchestra setting a beautiful backdrop for Eddie's inventive solos. For some of Eddie's best slow, sultry playing, check out "Siciliano" and "Aja's Theme." The closing three tracks constitute the impressive, modern-sounding "Concerto for Jazz Clarinet and Orchestra," which adds brass to the string orchestra heard on the previous tracks.
This 1986 album has become hard to get, and as I write this, Amazon is showing just one CD copy available from an alternate vendor at the ridiculous price of $54.95. This album is a landmark of jazz-classical fusion and a must for fans of Eddie Daniels (or clarinet in general), so I hope we see this reissued soon at an affordable price."