The informal title says a great deal about the contents of The Mozart
Sessions, which could have been called Concerti for Piano and Orchestra,
Nos. 23 and 20, since that is, for the most part, what it is. But of
course the conductors, vocalist Bobby McFerrin and jazz keyboard player
Chick Corea, are not your average classical musicians. Nor is there any
doubt about the non-traditional
nature of the recording, when it starts with McFerrin's patented improvisational vocals followed
by Corea's piano inventions under the title "Prelude." So, for a start,
purists should be warned away. On the other hand, the more adventurous
may be slightly disappointed, since after they get the preliminaries out
of the way, McFerrin and Corea, aided and abetted by the St. Paul
Chamber Orchestra, turn in pleasant but unexceptional readings of the
concerti, with Corea especially eschewing any attempt at dazzle in what
are usually showcase pieces. The piano work is fluid and the orchestral
accompaniment delicate, but the principals seem sufficiently concerned
about getting anything wrong not to really take off. At the end, as
Corea once again improvises in tandem with McFerrin's voice, one longs
for more of their interaction, perhaps in a less restrictive context. William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1-3 Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 23 In A Major, K. 488
4-6 Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 20 In D Minor, K. 466
7 "Song For Amadeus" / Improvisation On Mozart's Sonata No. 2 In F Major, K.280/189e: II. Adagio)
Composed – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor, Vocals – Bobby McFerrin
Orchestra – The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (tracks: 1 to 6)
Piano – Chick Corea
