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Attila László: Concerto for Jazz Guitar & Chamber Orchestra
ByOn Concerto for Jazz Guitar & Chamber Orchestra the fret-acrobat is joined by a core quartet, a number of flutes and the Budapest String Orchestra, conducted by Laszlo Kovacs and whose scores were arranged by Christian Olah. Divided over three movements, clocking in at about ten minutes each, the half hour concert proves a lush display of elegant craft and comforting sweeps of harmony very much consistent with the notion of the "smoothness" just mentioned.
Very little goes against what would be expected from an added orchestra to a jazz quartet. In their harmonic layout the strings play a reinforcing role rather than an independent one, while the flutes decorate the outer melodic lines with imitations and small embellishments. On the compositional side of things, the display remains varied enough for it to result in an overall dynamic experience. The highlights, however, are discovered within the soloist moments and sections that focus on the core quartet. Laszlo's classic approach brings to mind fusion heroes from a past era, recalling the likes of German bandleader and guitarist Volker Kriegel in his rock-meets-jazz vocabulary and nimble fluidity over the board. Bassist Béla Lattmann and drummer Tamás Hidász are more than capable of holding their own and deliver tight rhythmic backing. On the final movement the two propel the orchestra to the point where whiplash would seem a plausible outcome, while pianist Kalman Olah is given his moment to shine in the second movement commanding the keys with taste and control in one of the strongest solo sections on the record.
Saying that this music is original would be a lie. Pretending not to have a blast listening to it would however be the far bigger one. Concerto for Jazz Guitar & Chamber Orchestra is a fine display of the craft that Attila László has been working on to near perfection (what is really perfect after all...) for so many decades and presents the guitarist in an adequately pompous setting.
Track Listing
I. Movement; II. Movement; III. Movement;
Personnel
Attila László
guitarKalman Olah
pianoBéla Lattmann
bassTamas Hidasz
drumsEszter POZSAR
fluteBela Horvath
oboeGyorgy Lakatos
bassoonBudapest String Orchestra
variousAdditional Instrumentation
László Kovács: conductor.
Album information
Title: Concerto for Jazz Guitar & Chamber Orchestra | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Tom-Tom Records
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Attila László
Album Review
Friedrich Kunzmann
CONCERTO FOR JAZZ GUITAR & CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Tom-Tom Records
Randy Becker
Peter Erskine
Miroslav Vitous
Ferenc Nemeth
Volker Kriegel
Béla Lattmann
Kalman Olah
Atilla Laszlo