Claude Bolling (1930-2020): Sonatas for two Pianists

00:00 Sonata No. 1 in C minor: Moderato (Introduction, Swing theme, Variations) - Andante - Allegro in 7/4
24:00 Sonata No. 2 in G sharp minor: Moderato (Classic theme, Brazilian, Jazz theme, Etude, Divertissement) - Andante (Drama, Schumania) - Allegro (Vivo, Stride, Con fuoco)
Emanuel Ax & Claude Bolling, pianos
Pierre-Yves Sorin, bass / Vincent Cordelette, percussion
Recorded at Studio Davout, Paris, 1989
In the early 70s, a television producer asked Claude Bolling to create a five-minute musical segment of something ¨unusual¨. Claude wrote a brief piano duet for his friend - the classical pianist Jean-Bernard Pommier - that he and Pommier could play together. The performance was so succesful that Jean-Bernard asked Claude to expand the work into a concert piece in sonata form. Thus was born Bolling´s unique juxtaposition and blend of jazz and classical music.
Jean-Pierre Rampal heard that work and asked Claude if there was any chance he would write something similar for jazz combo and classical flute. The result was the famous Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano that captured the record charts for over ten years. Then followed (as other renown classical artists approached Claude) the Guitar Concerto (Alexandre Lagoya); ¨Toot Suite¨ for Trumpet (Maurice André); Suites for Violin (Pinchas Zukerman), Cello (Yo-Yo Ma), Orchestra (English Chamber Orchestra / Rampal); ¨Picnic Suite¨ for Flute and Guitar (Jean-Pierre Rampal and Alexandre Lagoya), and the Suite No. 2 for Flute (Jean-Pierre Rampal), each with Bolling´s distinct and original blend of jazz and classical elements.
Classical musicians have become increasingly intrested in jazz, and jazzmen have great admiration for the classical music world and its performers. Thta´s why Bolling´s crossover compositions are so succesful: they provide some musical meetings, which were not existing before in any repertoire.
Recently, Claude met Emanuel Ax and wrote a sonata for him. The two decided to record this new piece, as well as the first sonata for pianos. As the title ¨Sonatas for Two Pianists¨ indicates, the musicians involved are from different musical cultures: Ax, the classical pianist, is on your left in the stereophonic sound spectrum and Bolling, the jazz pianist, is on your right. The bass and drums are located in the center. The Sonatas differ from the ¨Suites¨ in that they are conceived as one continual work without any interruption, as opposed to a many movement work. But the Bolling joie de vivre touches all he creates.
Enjoy these two masters of the ivories having fun for our pleasure!

[@5610winston]

You can't help but like this. Bolling was one of the finest composers of his generation

[@alexbo5998]

Cool composition! Like, my friend!

[@Florian-rd3eb]

So underrated damn

[@ParnasoCultural]

Sonata No. 1 in C minor: Moderato (Introduction, Swing theme, Variations) 0:00 Andante 8:59 Allegro in 7/4 18:15