Caribbean Rhapsody Explained

Caribbean Rhapsody
Type:Album
Artist:James Carter
Cover:Caribbean Rhapsody.jpg
Released:May 17, 2011
Recorded:December 21, 2009 and March 18 & 19, 2010
Studio:Witold Lutoslawski Concert Studio, Warsaw, Poland and Avatar Studios, New York City
Genre:Jazz
Length:45:00
Label:EmArcy
Producer:Michael Cuscuna
Chronology:James Carter
Prev Title:Heaven on Earth
Prev Year:2009
Next Title:At the Crossroads
Next Year:2011

Caribbean Rhapsody is an album by saxophonist James Carter composed and orchestrated by Roberto Sierra, released on the EmArcy label in 2011.[1]

Reception

The AllMusic reviewer Matt Collar wrote: "A bold, adventurous performer with a titanic facility on the saxophone, Carter is perfectly suited for performing with large ensembles, and the orchestrations here are gorgeously rendered landscapes for Carter to play against. In fact, composer Sierra purposely left certain cadenzas and other areas of the scores on Caribbean Rhapsody open for Carter to improvise, and the results are nothing short of thrilling". In JazzTimes, Bill Beuttler commented: "It’s unusual, and remarkable, in that it’s a full-fledged orchestral work penned with Carter’s improvisational genius firmly in mind, and it manages to successfully blend rhythmic nods to Sierra’s native Puerto Rico".[2] For All About Jazz, C. Michael Bailey said: "In a field populated by "good" and even "exceptional" recordings, it is nice to hear a Caribbean Rhapsody that is truly outstanding".[3] The Guardian critic John Fordham wrote: "It's a stylish success in a crossover territory often fraught with pitfalls".[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Roberto Sierra, except where indicated.

  1. "Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra: Ritmico" - 4:52
  2. "Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra: Tender" - 7:04
  3. "Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra: Playful -- Fast (With Swing)" - 7:39
  4. "Tenor Interlude" (James Carter) - 5:34
  5. "Caribbean Rhapsody" - 13:37
  6. "Soprano Interlude" (Carter) - 6:14

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. http://jamescarterlive.com/discography James Carter discography
  2. Beuttler, B., James Carter: Caribbean Rhapsody - review, JazzTimes, July/August 2011 - accessed October 24, 2016
  3. Bailey, C. M., All About Jazz Review, accessed October 24, 2016
  4. Fordham, J., The Guardian Review, July 22, 2011