Bernstein in Vienna

...not a tasteless bone in his body. Musicality is of the utmost importance in his every groove, solo, fill, and mini-gesture...
Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

A towering cultural figure throughout the second half of the 20th century, Leonard Bernstein mediated between different musical worlds, borrowing freely from jazz, blues and popular music, eventually shaping a "classical" sound that became his deeply influential signature. From his decades of working alongside Austria's most illustrious musicians, Vienna's JAM Music Lab University was inspired to celebrate his music and legacy. With the addition of drumming great Peter Erskine as a Visiting Artist in 2021—bringing along his own decades of contributions to blending popular musics at the highest levels—they handed him the task of shaping the ambitious project. With this live recording, Erskine, JAM students and faculty, and pianist/musical director Danny Grissett honor Bernstein's genius and fulfill JAM's chief mission—inspired by the jazz masters, educate and nurture jazz's next generation—and on this night, Peter Erskine, and Leonard Bernstein, led the charge.

Click here to listen to the album

Track Listing

1 Somewhere 7:33
2 I Feel Pretty 7:03
3 It's Love 7:09
4 Viennese Summer 7:31
5 Lonely Town 6:59
6 Calls and Hollers 11:22
7 Some Other Time 5:40
8 Cool 9:06

All songs composed by Leonard Bernstein, except:
(4) composed and arranged by Danny Grissett
(6) composed and arranged by Marcus Ratka

(1) arr. by Alan Pasqua
(2,3,5) arr. by Danny Grissett
(8) arr. by Oliver Nelson, adapted by Danny Grissett

---