It's not too often that a jazz-oriented composer takes an interest in 20th century English classical music, so this nearly hourlong suite by pianist/composer
Florian Ross
-- ostensibly inspired by the Brits -- is going to be of interest to third stream buffs. Yet the piece is not that audibly indebted to
Ross
' designated role models
Benjamin Britten
,
Frederick Delius
Peter Warlock
Frank Bridge
, or
Edward Elgar
. Rather, the primary focus is usually upon the suite's inspired soloist,
Dave Liebman
, whose soprano sax shines brilliantly throughout the project. Sometimes the music gets just a bit out there, particularly in the mild excursions into the 12-tone universe of "Part VI" and free jazz of "Part VII." But it is mostly a very attractive score where
the Event String Ensemble
under
Manfred Knaak
is well integrated with the excellent German rhythm section (
Dietmar Fuhr
, bass;
Jochen Rueckert
, drums) in this live recording. Although the suite flows in a nearly seamless stream, the sections are presented out of their numerical order (the Roman numerals supposedly reflect only the chronological order of composition). Yet this is the only daffy thing about a lovely addition to the third stream repertoire that, at
Naxos
' super-bargain price, qualifies as a best buy. ~ Richard S. Ginell