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| Pianist Albert Ahlf Releases "Black" by Duke Ellington Jazz pianist and New York resident Albert Ahlf has just released an EP based on the landmark Duke Ellington suite Black Brown and Beige. For this recording, Ahlf has transcribed and recorded the first section of the masterpiece, Black, which includes the well-known composition "Come Sunday." When Duke Ellington premiered Black Brown and Beige in January 1943 at his orchestra's first performance at Carnegie Hall, it received mixed reviews. Jazz icon John Hammond criticized Ellington for attempting to compose in such a long form with the ambitious work way ahead of its time in concept and in scope. Based on the jazz great's narrative of African-American history, the jazz symphony captures a wide interpretation of emotion and was only performed in its entirety a few times. Most often, Duke highlighted excerpts from it in performance and on record. However, it has come to be revered as an historic composition. Jazz great Wynton Marsalis, who recorded the extended work in 2018, praises the composition, saying "It sits alone in the history of jazz." For the first time, a piano transcript of the beloved first section of the suite, Black, is available as a digital EP. This effort is the work of pianist Albert Ahlf who has a B.A. in Jazz Studies from SUNY Purchase and an M.A. in Music Education from Hunter College. Prior to the pandemic, Ahlf performed regularly in the New York region with his trio and with his hot jazz ensemble. He has also played at Blue Note, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola and other jazz clubs in New York City and the region. He performed in the Purchase Jazz Orchestra with several jazz notables including trumpeter Jon Faddis, and reedmen Jerry Dodgion and Gary Bartz. The EP is available on Amazon and through streaming platforms such as Spotify and YouTube. The 21 minute piece was produced by Dan Kottmann and recorded at Threshold Studios in New York City. The full transcription and an alternate recording can be found on YouTube. The EP may be purchased from Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/4c9m8cfp. write your comments about the article :: © 2021 Jazz News :: home page |