Review 4

All Music Guide review 'You Go To My Head' & 'Portrait of a Silk Thread'

All Music Guide

 (March 2002)

You Go To My Head: Billy Strayhorn and Standards Artist:The Dutch Jazz Orchestra Group With Jerry Van Rooijen Date of Release: Feb 5, 2002  AMG Rating: ****

It is surprising that decades passed following Billy Strayhorn’s death in 1967 before anyone started seriously exploring the treasure trove of arrangements by the talented composer and arranger. What is especially unusual about these fourteen charts is that they are all standards rather than his own compositions, and many of them make their recording debut on this release by the Dutch Jazz Orchestra, heard on their second CD devoted exclusively to his writing. An extended treatment of “Autumn in New York” focuses on John Ruocco’s birdlike clarinet solo, while “I’ll Remember April” isn’t a runaway vehicle (as in most bop charts) but has an easygoing loping gait. Strayhorn’s writing for the horns and reeds is impeccable on every number. Singer Marjorie Barnes adds her thoughtful vocals to four tracks, shining particularly on the unusual chart of “Yesterdays.” Strayhorn fans will be delighted to learn that the Dutch Jazz Orchestra already has two more CDs in the pipeline to follow up their first two ventures into little known Strayhorn scores, so it is likely that they will want to acquire all of their recordings in this series. ~ Ken Dryden

-------------------------------- Portrait of a Silk Thread: Newly Discovered Works of Billy Strayhorn Artist:The Dutch Jazz Orchestra Group With Jerry Van Rooijen Date of Release: Jan 6, 1995 - Jan 8, 1995 AMG Rating: ****

This is a historically significant CD for it features the Dutch Jazz Orchestra performing a dozen Billy Strayhorn numbers, including eight that 28 years after the composer’s death were finally receiving their world premiere recording. The 16-piece big band does not attempt to sound like Duke Ellington’s Orchestra but there are strong hints of Duke’s ensemble in the arrangements. The quality of the music is consistently high, the soloists are respectful but creative to Strayhorn’s recently discovered pieces and the overall results are quite memorable.  ~ Scott Yanow