Rhapsody In Blue

Description

Orchestrated by saxophonist Tommy Smith, this Rhapsody in Blue of the 21st century was written to feature Brian Kellock and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra's 'Rhapsody in Blue' takes George Gershwin's classic jazz age concerto on an unprecedented adventure. Re-orchestrated by SNJO director, saxophonist Tommy Smith, it was written to feature Scotland's world class jazz pianist Brian Kellock, who played the original Rhapsody as a music student in Edinburgh in 1981.

Familiar themes, including the iconic clarinet glissando and Gershwin's heartbreaking nostalgic refrain, have been used - respectfully - as source material and reworked into a fifty-two minute epic that flows through exciting uptempo movements, rhapsodic blues passages, a sensational Cuban fantasia and hard swinging jazz choruses, showcasing SNJO's magnificent ensemble playing and top class, creative soloing. The piece was premiered at Edinburgh Jazz Festival 2006, going on to further acclaim at London Jazz Festival, Brecon Jazz Festival and in concerts throughout the UK.