This Friday evening at 8 p.m. in the Theater for the Performing Arts at the Learning Corridor, 359 Washington Street in Hartford, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra's "Jazz and Strings" series continues with a tribute to the classic 1963 Impulse Lp "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman." Not only will one hear most of the songs from the collaboration but also classic Coltrane works such as "Giant Steps" and "My Favorite Things."
Why do I write about this on THE EYE? Besides the fact that is among Coltrane's finest (as well as accessible) recordings and the music is quite lovely, it's because the series is the brainchild of the HSO's principal timpanist Gene Bozzi (pictured left) and he is a native of this city and a 1966 graduate of Middletown High School (Go Tigers!) He'll be sitting at his regular trap set for the concert which also features the vocals of Giacomo Gates (private lessons teacher at Wesleyan) and the tenor saxophone work of former New Haven resident (and graduate of the Hartt School of Music) Wayne Escoffery. Pianist Walt Gwardyak is providing the classy arrangements.
Everybody knows Coltrane, but not so many know of Johnny Hartman. This collaboration is one of my all-time favorites. Wish I could attend this concert! I urge anyone who loves ballads and jazz to buy the CD AND attend the concert & support this tribute.
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