Hush (Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin album) explained

Hush
Type:	studio
Artist:	Bobby McFerrin and Yo-Yo Ma
Border:	yes
Released:	1992
Recorded:	August 22, 1991 – August 25, 1991
Studio:	Dreamland (Hurley, New York) Different Fur (San Francisco, California) Power Station (New York City, New York)
Genre:	Classical, vocal jazz
Length:	46:28
Label:	Sony Masterworks (US) Sony Classical (international)
Producer:	Bobby McFerrin, Steven Epstein
Chronology:	Bobby McFerrin
Prev Title:	Play
Prev Year:	1992
Next Title:	Bang!Zoom
Next Year:	1995

Hush is a collaborative album by vocalist Bobby McFerrin and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.^{[1] [2]} It was released on the Sony Masterworks label in 1992.^[3] The pair first met at a 1988 celebration of Leonard Bernstein.^[4]

The album peaked at No. 93 on the Billboard 200.^[5]

Production

The album was produced by McFerrin and Steven Epstein.^[6] McFerrin wrote five of its songs; the collaborators adapted three Johann Sebastian Bach compositions.^[7] According to McFerrin, Ma was hesitant to improvise during the recording sessions.^[8]

Critical reception

The Indianapolis Star wrote: "Apart from a rousing indulgence in country fiddle-music licks on 'Hoedown!', McFerrin's own compositions here lean toward the artfully overdubbed New Age." The St. Petersburg Times praised "the album's best track, McFerrin's beautifully melodic 'Stars'."^[9] The Washington Post admired "the winning combination of Ma's unerring, often deeply expressive touch and McFerrin's wit, whimsy, resourcefulness and sheer musicality."^[10]

Track listing

1. "Grace" (McFerrin) – 3:54
2. "Double Mandolin Concerto in G, RV 532" Andante (Vivaldi) – 4:03
3. "The Flight of the Bumblebee" (Rimsky-Korsakov) – 1:08
4. "Stars" (McFerrin) – 4:04
5. "Hush Little Baby" (Trad.) – 2:36
6. "Vocalise," song for voice & piano, Op. 34/14 (Rachmaninov) – 6:26
7. "Musette for keyboard in D Major (AMN II/22; doubtful), BWV Anh. 126" (J. S. Bach) – 4:12
8. "Coyote" (McFerrin) – 2:52
9. "Sonata for 2 cellos, No. 10 in G Allegro: Prestissimo" (Barrière) – 2:36
10. "Ave Maria" (Gounod / J. S. Bach) – 2:37
11. "Hoedown!" (McFerrin) – 5:38
12. "Air" (Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068) (J. S. Bach) – 5:11
13. "Good-bye" (McFerrin) – 1:11

Personnel

• Yo-Yo Ma – cello
• Bobby McFerrin – vocals, arrangements (5)

Production

• Linda Goldstein – executive producer
• Steven Epstein – producer
• Bobby McFerrin – producer, liner notes
• Chris Tergesen – recording, mixing
• Ron Rigler – recording assistant
• John Yates – assistant engineer
• Aaron Krops – mix assistant
• Matthew LaMonica – mix assistant
• Bud Graham – mastering
• Julia Cohen – production coordinator
• Allen Weinberg – cover design
• Carol Friedman – cover photography
• Yo-Yo Ma – liner notes

Notes and References

1. News: Metcalf . Steve . New year offers stack of classical CDs . Hartford Courant . 8 Jan 1992 . D6.
2. News: Room for Cello . Windsor Star . 1 Feb 1992 . F1.
3. News: Dyer . Richard . Ma and McFerrin take their act to the studio . The Boston Globe . 10 Jan 1992 . Arts & Film . 85.
4. News: Littler . William . Duo doesn't worry, sounds happy . Toronto Star . 15 Feb 1992 . J8.
5. Web site: Bobby McFerrin . Billboard . 30 December 2022.
6. Hush by Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin . Billboard . Feb 15, 1992 . 104 . 7 . 47.
7. News: Reese . Catherine . Two Wonderful Collaborations . The Salt Lake Tribune . 9 Feb 1992 . E9.
8. News: Blangger . Tim . BOBBY MCFERRIN MORE THAN 'HAPPY . The Morning Call . 22 Feb 1992 . A55.
9. News: Snider . Eric . Sorry, Bobby, but this time we're not happy . St. Petersburg Times . 14 Feb 1992 . Weekend . 20.
10. News: Joyce . Mike . Complements of Bobby McFerrin . The Washington Post . 26 Feb 1992 . C7.