Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 24, 1992 TAG: 9203240355
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SETH WILLIAMSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Taylor's piece was the piece de resistance of a year as the RSO's composer-in-residence. The entire concert was taped by National Public Radio's "Performance Today" and will be heard by a national audience Thursday. The concert will be aired Thursday afternoon on Roanoke NPR affiliate WVTF.
The evening began with another jazz piece, Gunther Schuller's "Journey Into Jazz." The musical fable with narrator has lived for the past three decades mainly in young people's concerts and school performances. The tale of how young Eddie Jackson gets his jazz chops and eventually sees into the heart of jazz was narrated by Father Lloyd Stephenson of St. Gerard's Roman Catholic Church in Roanoke.
Solo work came from trumpeter Allen Bachelder, tenor saxophonist Gunnar Mossblad, alto saxophonist Bill Schnepper, bassist Ephraim Wolfolk and drummer Bill Ray.
Perched oddly between the night's two jazz works was Richard Strauss' late masterpiece "Metamorphosen," scored for 23 solo strings. After hearing this piece it was easy to understand why the RSO is so eager to have a decent shell installed at the Civic Center.
It was a heartfelt performance, but simply too difficult to hear. The 23 players sounded tiny and muffled, with conductor Bond's dynamic contrasts lessened and even concertmaster James Glazebrook's big sound seemingly dying about five rows out. Operations manager Pat Avise said the symphony hopes to have a new shell by September.
"Conversations" was miked and amplified, which took care of most of the acoustic problems. A concertante piece, it pitted Taylor's piano trio and jazz violinist Joe Kennedy Jr. against the full orchestra's ripieno. The work is shaped like a concerto as well, with a fast-slow-fast three movement structure plus a long, meditative coda.
It was easily the most enjoyable RSO performance of the year thus far. The first movement was happy, straight-ahead and accessible mainstream jazz with a '60s Basie feel. Great solos abounded, with the surprise of the night coming from bassoonist John Husser. No nonsense here about the bassoon being the "comedian of the double reeds": Husser launched into a wailing 64-bar solo that sounded like Bud Shank on a good night and shattered stereotypes on the way.
The second movement was an extended jazz romanza that began with a long cadenza from violinist Kennedy, eventually moving to a beautiful piano lead over block chords from strings and brass.
The final movement began with an uninhibited percussion romp which eventually led to a tart, square-cut melody from the woodwinds. After some jazzy tuttis from the double basses and celli, the trio re-entered with beautiful solo work from trumpeter Bachelder. Taylor's drummer launched into a long solo ride that led to a reappearance of the opening theme. But the cherry on the whipped cream was an unexpected romantic coda that featured moody, meditative solo work from flutist Carol Noe, Bachelder, trombonist Dayl Burnett, clarinetist Jeffrey Olson and others.
"Conversations" was a crowd-pleaser that earned its raucous applause and shouts of approval.
The orchestra will travel to Virginia Tech's Burruss Hall auditorium tonight to repeat the program.
by CNB