A Far Cry Debrief

Gig — nicholas on April 14, 2010 at 1:52 pm

every time we say goodbye MP3

This debrief might also be called A Far Cry From The Norm: A classical ensemble willing to take a risk every now and again. I work with a good number of ensembles that are trying to integrate jazz into their classical repertoire or add a kind of orchestral element into their jazz or pop language. Often I am asked to water down one element as a concession to the other, the belief being that people will be put off by an equitable fusion of esthetics and traditions. The worry is understandable when practical concerns such as ticket sales, ensemble identity and branding are concerned. People want their chosen paradigm be it jazz, classical, or pop to be what it is and more often than not ensembles treat the inclusion of a different kind of music on a program as an exoticism, which borders the novel. Mozartian a la turk for the 21st century.

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