Bach having been thoroughly thrashed by jazz musicians, it is the turn of Handel, Dowland, Corelli, Telemann, Couperin, Lully, Frescobaldi, Rameau and Byrd (William, not Charlie or Donald!) – composers of the Baroque Period. And why not? For that was a time of abounding musical riches which Mr. Gruntz’ quintet are well aware of. As he says in his liner note; ‘During the recording somehow the spirit of the Baroque Music transplanted itself to us 20th Century musicians.’ An honest claim, judging by the results.
The pieces were picked with care so that they ‘could be interpreted in the jazz idiom easily and without distortion’. Gruntz played harpsichord instead of piano. He was aided by the excellent German reedmen Emil Mangelsdorff and Klaus Doldinger plus the magnificent Peter Trunk (bass) and drummer Klaus Weiss.
I never thought I would hear Handel’s Water Music as a bossa nova, but here it is and there’s nothing sacrilegious, or distasteful, about it. The arrangement is perfect, being helped by Trunk’s arco accompaniment. Ciacona, by Johann Pachelbel, could not be more of our age with Doldinger’s soprano sax wailing over Weiss’ Elvin Jones-type barrage. Corelli’s Gavotta from the Concerto has some sumptuous counterpoint between Mangelsdorff and Doldinger. I’m sure the Baroque hipsters would have flipped their wigs in approval! The harpsichord takes on an organ-like quality when the notes are sustained, although it becomes slightly monotonous on two sides of an LP. Not through any fault of the admirable Mr. Gruntz, I hasten to add, but simply because the instrument sounds tinny in large doses. What this record proves conclusively is that all good music can successfully be adapted to suit the jazz musician’s need for challenging material.
Discography
Das Frauenzimmer Verstimmt Sich Immer; Pavana “The Earl Of Shrewsbury”; Le Croc En Jambe; Garvotte En Rondeau; Overture-Bouree-Hornpipe From ‘The Water Music’ (20½ min) – Ciacona In F Minor; Lachrimae Antiquae Pavan; Musetta En Rondeau; Corrente; Corrente-Gavotta From Concerto Grosso No G In F (20 min)
Emil Mangelsdorff (flt); Klaus Doldinger (clt/sop); George Gruntz (harpsichord); Peter Trunk (bs); Klaus Weiss (d). West Berlin. 27-28/4/64.
(Philips BL 7645 12inLP 33s. 1d.)
