User Reviews

Personally, I never cared for Wynton Marsalis. While technically proficient, I have always found his performances dull and lifeless. Granted the classical repertoire for trumpet is pretty dull itself. There are no great concerti written for the instrument, and frankly I find the sound, except in an orchestral composition, quite irritating when played solo. Anyway, the first half on the concert is Marsalis' 3rd 'Swing Symphony', a work which I found as dull and lifeless as the composer. Basically it's just a hodge-podge of various jazz styles with little structure, embarrassing orchestration and none of the melodic invention of a Bernstein or a Gershwin or an Ellington. I found myself just wishing for the piece to end...and tempted to hit the fast forward. The remainder of the concert is Strauss' Don Juan and Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis which are performed competently.