Jazz and Strings does 'Trane & Hartman (Owen McNally)
Despite a messy snow storm the day before and wintry weather on the day of its premiere concert in March 2009, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra's "Jazz and Strings" series drew a packed, enthusiastic house at a Hartford church. The
series, with its fusion of jazz and classical, got off to a high-flying
start musically. Two years later, its level hasn't faltered as it
prepares for its fifth presentation this weekend, an homage to the 1963
album, "John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman." The series, which has paid homage to famous jazz albums by giants ranging from Charlie Parker to Ella Fitzgerald,
has once again cast excellent performers to fill the roles of the
original immortals for its concert Friday at 8 p.m. at the Theater for
the Performing Arts at the Learning Corridor, in Hartford. Giacomo Gates,
one of today's few authentic male jazz singers (a highly endangered
species in 2011), is cast as Hartman, performing four selections from
the famous, gorgeous ballad album, plus other material associated with
Coltrane. Wayne Escoffery, the rising tenor saxophonist and onetime Jackie McLean
protégé, is, in an exceptional piece of casting, set to play Coltrane.
He'll perform selections from the album plus additional Coltrane-related
material, perhaps even including Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue," a
signature Trane track and guaranteed show-stopper. - (more)
Johnnykmusic: John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman is
one of my favorite albums of ALL time and it is being performed Friday
night in Hartford featuring vocalist Giacomo Gates and saxophonist Wayne
Escoffery. However, because of Kemba's buzzer-beater, I will be in
front of the big screen watching Huskies/Orange.
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