Evoking the Roaring Twenties, Chicago composer Leo Sowerby’s engaging and ingenious Synconata (1924) and Symphony for Jazz Orchestra (“Monotony”) (1925), critically praised for their distinctive harmony, counterpoint, and humor, receive world-premiere recordings by Chicago bandleader-trombonist Andrew Baker and his Andy Baker Orchestra, making their Cedille Records debuts.
Sowerby was among the leading young American classical composers commissioned by celebrity bandleader Paul Whiteman to create fresh repertoire for his landmark series of “symphonic jazz” concerts — a roster that also included George Gershwin, Ferde Grofé, and Zez Confrey.
The same Jazz Age concerts that saw the premieres of Sowerby’s Synconata and Symphony for Jazz Orchestra also launched Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue into America’s consciousness.
The program also includes Sowerby chamber works from the same period: his Serenade for String Quartet and the world-premiere recordings of his String Quartet in D minor and Tramping Tune for piano and strings, all performed by the Avalon String Quartet, an ensemble “prizing grace, charm and elegance” (WQXR Radio). Joining the Avalon in Tramping Tune are pianist Winston Choi, head of the piano program at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts, and Alexander Hanna, principal double-bassist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Tracklist:
01. Sowerby: Synconata, H. 176a
02. Sowerby: Serenade for String Quartet in G Major, H. 137
03. Sowerby: String Quartet in D Minor, H. 172: I. Somber and Slow – Heavily, Not Fast
04. Sowerby: String Quartet in D Minor, H. 172: II. Quietly, but with Warmth
05. Sowerby: String Quartet in D Minor, H. 172: III. Fast and with Passionate Urge
06. Sowerby: Tramping Tune for Piano & Strings, H. 122c
07. Sowerby: Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, H. 178 “Monotony”: I. Nights Out
08. Sowerby: Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, H. 178 “Monotony”: II. Fridays at Five
09. Sowerby: Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, H. 178 “Monotony”: III. Sermons
10. Sowerby: Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, H. 178 “Monotony”: IV. Critics
DON’T MODIFY THIS FILE
–––––––––––-
PERFORMER: auCDtect Task Manager, ver. 1.6.0 RC1 build 1.6.0.1
Copyright © 2008-2010 y-soft. All rights reserved
ANALYZER: auCDtect: CD records authenticity detector, version 0.8.2
Copyright © 2004 Oleg Berngardt. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 Alexander Djourik. All rights reserved.
FILE: 10 – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet & Andy Baker – Sowerby- Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, H. 178 ”Monotony”- IV. Critics.flac
Size: 36048707 Hash: D4B1E69E3CD5B02BA570C8F24CD00EC3 Accuracy: -m8
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 5521899B37BC82E61053DB92652D4CA56D7A4994
FILE: 09 – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet & Andy Baker – Sowerby- Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, H. 178 ”Monotony”- III. Sermons.flac
Size: 24903089 Hash: B8F013C44ADBCD52FA8D3721F1A9511C Accuracy: -m8
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 3E1C668E4130131F17484B9DDB96BA0AA6351134
FILE: 08 – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet & Andy Baker – Sowerby- Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, H. 178 ”Monotony”- II. Fridays at Five.flac
Size: 25893561 Hash: 3DE01520DD7C5DB11EF614FBF0BA3390 Accuracy: -m8
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 18FF28F451A549B450F3B9D95EB759C165280806
FILE: 07 – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet & Andy Baker – Sowerby- Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, H. 178 ”Monotony”- I. Nights Out.flac
Size: 35308402 Hash: AD68801D7006FE10E2A1349C1A4445C9 Accuracy: -m8
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: A82784F9666B93DE64C962A13885158762334AC5
FILE: 06 – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet & Andy Baker – Sowerby- Tramping Tune for Piano & Strings, H. 122c.flac
Size: 18293867 Hash: 7525A3BAC7D1593715C5667B6ED28F68 Accuracy: -m8
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: B6708CAEC41311226873D9A449942BCD5B99826D
FILE: 05 – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet & Andy Baker – Sowerby- String Quartet in D Minor, H. 172- III. Fast and with Passionate Urge.flac
Size: 57654832 Hash: B0EDB37E2808C8E7E230D1140BC1942E Accuracy: -m8
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: F53DE86648CD863A0FBE3AAB7E1EF812A6BE1C74
FILE: 04 – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet & Andy Baker – Sowerby- String Quartet in D Minor, H. 172- II. Quietly, but with Warmth.flac
Size: 51069412 Hash: 3EB4CD9FD83BFA86DB5CE66EDD02DE2F Accuracy: -m8
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: FE3B5A822FB3AF407DF136CECD7C568C03C7BEBE
FILE: 03 – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet & Andy Baker – Sowerby- String Quartet in D Minor, H. 172- I. Somber and Slow – Heavily, Not Fast.flac
Size: 35715329 Hash: 54314208C59A4F4A0761C0163AC8C114 Accuracy: -m8
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 4DD3995A74B8749CF94F3DE647A62CBFAB711D0C
FILE: 02 – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet & Andy Baker – Sowerby- Serenade for String Quartet in G Major, H. 137.flac
Size: 47354230 Hash: EE1DEFA605FC2D82958921BE6098C799 Accuracy: -m8
Conclusion: CDDA 99%
Signature: 37FF47440AF1AA8E26A74ABA39028B761B1BC20F
FILE: 01 – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet & Andy Baker – Sowerby- Synconata, H. 176a.flac
Size: 59070970 Hash: 1FFBEF23660FD56EDAF0142F07B5E81B Accuracy: -m8
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 14F860887CD71BF13887B77AC2020DD776BEB57B
DOWNLOAD LINK