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Jazz Goes Baroque Vols 1 & 2 – Jazz Club

$8.99 ... CD (€6.90 || £5.91 || ¥919) (approx.)

A pair of 60s gems – together on a single CD! First up is the original Jazz Goes Baroque from George Gruntz – one of the best blends of jazz and classical music we can think of! Sure, the tunes are from Corelli, Handel, Pachelbel, and other baroque composers – but they're taken to hip jazzy territory here in the hands of pianist George Gruntz – who plays some mighty cool electric harpsichord on the set! The sound's more like a 60s soundtrack swing than any staid sort of longhair classics – thanks in part to great work from Klaus Doldinger on soprano sax, and Emil Mangelsdorff on flute – plus swinging rhythms from the team of Peter Trunk on bass and Klaus Weiss on drums. The horns bring in a sense of depth and soul to the record that's missing from other dates of this nature – especially trio sets, like those of Jacques Loussier – and titles include "Corrente", "Pavana", "Gavotte En Rondeau", "Le Croc En Jambe", and "Musette En Rondeau". Jazz Goes Baroque Vol 2 is a wonderful follow-up to George Gruntz's first album of baroque jazz grooves from the 60s – one that focuses on melodies from Italian composers – recast here by Gruntz with some very swinging styles! The roots may be classical, but the end result is pretty darn groovy all the way through – in a space between mod 60s soundtracks and some of the more lyrical jazz on the European scene – with some especially great reed work from Leo Wright, Sahib Shihab, and Raymond Guiot! George Gruntz plays this extra-cool electric harpsichord – which further enforces a 60s vibe – and rhythms are from Peter Trunk on bass and Daniel Humair on drums. Tracks include "Sarabande", "Aria", "Lamento D'Arianna", "Allegro", and "Danza Danza Faniculla".  © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.