...Erskine and the Jam Music Lab All-Stars demonstrate virtuosity, versatility and a keen attention to detail...creating a fitting tribute to the most influential figures in 20th-century music.
Peter Erskine and Vienna's JAM Music Lab All-Stars celebrate the music of two iconic Viennese composers who, after moving to Hollywood in 1929 & 1934, transformed the dynamics of film as they set the standards for movie scoring. Through their work on Gone With the Wind, King Kong, and many dozens more, their role in shaping popular culture since is legion. First exposed to the music in the late '70s as he was touring with Weather Report, Erskine heard Joe Zawinul playing a beautiful melody and learned it was by Korngold, a fellow Viennese composer. He was moved to search out transcripts and recordings ever since. With his artist-in-residency at Vienna's cutting-edge JAM Music Lab University, his desire to reimagine this music in an improvised jazz setting finally became a reality.
Track Listing:
1 March of the Merry Men 7:09
2 Sterbelied (from Lieder des Abschieds, Op. 14) 6:12
3 Old Spanish Song 5:32
4 The Boys Go to Play 5:04
5 Concerto Miniature (theme from Violin Concerto 2nd mvt.) 1:09
6 Romance (Violin Concerto, 2nd mvt.) 5:13
7 Tara's Theme 4:48
8 Belle Watling 6:27
9 Johnny Belinda 3:33
10 String Quartet No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 26 (Larghetto) 9:53
11 A Summer Place 4:54
12 Ghost Coda (theme from Violin Concerto, 2nd mvt.) 1:09
Composed by:
E.W. Korngold (1,2,3,4,5,6,10)
Max Steiner (7,8,9,11)
Arranged by:
Peter Erskine (1,4,5,7,9,11)
Danny Grissett (2,3,6,8,10)
Performers:
Herwig Gradischnig - saxophone (1,3,6,9)
Thomas Gansch - trumpet (1,3)
Bertl Mayer - harmonica (1,3,11)
Bob Sheppard - flute (4)
Judd Miller - EVI (5,11); sound design (12)
Andreas Varady - guitar (1,3,4,6,7,8,9,11)
Danny Grissett - piano
Thatiana Gomes - double bass (4,6,9,10)
Fabricio Pereira - double bass (1,2,3,7,8,11)
Peter Erskine - drums; percussion (7,9)
Flip Phillip - vibraphone (4,5,8,9); percussion (9)
Brian Kilgore - percussion (1)
Alyssa Park - violin (12)
String Quartet (5,10):
Kristina Šuklar - 1st violin
Anastasia Lindberg - 2nd violin
Mario Gheorghiu - viola
Julia Schreyvogel - cello
(courtesy of the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra)
Production Info:
Produced by Peter Erskine, Jeff Levenson & Marcus Ratka
Engineered by Andreas Rathammer & Martin Klebahn
at 4tune audio productions, Vienna, Austria
January 24-26, 2024
Mixed by Aaron Walk at Puck Productions, Santa Monica, CA
Mastered by Jon D'Uva, Brooklyn, NY
Band Photographs by Martin Zaunschirm & Peter Erskine
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
