Track Listing

1. Gioacchino Rossini: Duetto
2. Gioacchino Rossini: Duetto
3. Gioacchino Rossini: Duetto
4. John Patitucci: The Root
5. Georg Philipp Telemann: Sonata No. 2
6. Georg Philipp Telemann: Sonata No. 2
7. Georg Philipp Telemann: Sonata No. 2
8. Giovanni Bottesini: Gran Duetto No. 3
9. Giovanni Bottesini: Gran Duetto No. 3
10. Martin Dalby: MacPherson's Rant
11. Reinhold Gliere: Cradle Song
12. Edward Elgar: Duetto
13. John Patitucci: Grateful
14. Jean Francaix: Duo Baroque
15. Jean Francaix: Duo Baroque
16. Jean Francaix: Duo Baroque
17. Jean Francaix: Duo Baroque

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47926 in Music
• Released on: 2005-02-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Album Description
Jeremy McCoy's new album, "Dialogues with Double Bass" presents a wide-ranging look at the double bass repertoire. The album highlights two particular themes. The primary notion is highlighting the bass as an equal voice in instrumental duos that are diverse and interesting conversations. A second theme is found in the vocal quality of much of the music. Like Bottesini, one of history's most famous bass players, who earned his living playing in an opera orchestra, Jeremy McCoy is a seasoned member of New York City's Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (the orchestra's assistant principal bassist). The influence of great singing can be heard in McCoy's playing, in the way he shapes a phrase and in the varied tonal colors of his sound. McCoy's wide experience as a soloist, chamber player and orchestral musician, and the expressive range of his instrument, finds him right at home in this engaging collection of eloquent dialogues with the double bass.

Amazon.com
Destined by sheer size to hold up a whole orchestra, the double bass is rarely encountered in solo or chamber music. But on this record, Jeremy McCoy, Assistant Principal bassist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, proves that this mighty monster will let a great player perform fascinating technical feats and elicit sounds of astonishing beauty and variety. Collaborating with equally brilliant partners, he displays his instrument's infinite resources, as well as his own stunning virtuosity and stylistic versatility; the program--partly original, partly transcribed--ranges from Baroque, real and faux, to the present. Two charming Italian "Duettos" sound like parodies of grand opera: Bottesini's, himself a great bassist, for two basses, and Rossini's, for cello and, incredibly, a three-stringed bass. Both include singing slow movements, bouncy finales and dazzling pyrotechnics. Jazz bassist and composer John Patitucci contributes two pieces: one rhythmically spicy, one lyrical. A Telemann Canonic Sonata, familiar on flutes or violins, growls on bassoon and bass; Martin Dalby's Scottish-influenced "Rant" features sound effects for flute and bass. Duets by Gliére and Elgar, with viola and trombone respectively, are lovely. In Jean Francaix's brilliant "Duo Baroque," the bass and harp make fun of themselves and each other, but the joke goes on too long. This record will leave you smiling with admiration and delight. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews

Entertaining Dialogues
I enjoyed listening to "Dialogues with Double Bass" from beginning to end. I would recommend this excellent disk without any reservations!

The range of instrumental colors makes this a varied and interesting listening experience. This recording captures the fine details of the instruments without losing any warmth.

Communication between the players is excellent. McCoy's bass playing is superb, with great feel and great timing.

I have heard other fine recordings of the Rossini, but this one is my favorite. Kudos to Jeremy McCoy for showing the potential of the double bass in duet settings!

Charming, Well-Recorded Double Bass Dialogues
This well-recorded disc features the double-bass as an equal voice in instrumental duos. It is a collection of diverse and interesting musical conversations. Pieces range from Rossini and Telemann to 20th century composers Elgar and Francaix, among others. Each composition features an expressive double-bass. The pieces have a melodious, vocal quality. If you like the sonorous musings of the double-bass, featured as a leading voice (as opposed to its usual work as the backbone of the orchestra) you are sure to enjoy this delightful disc.

Dialogues With Double Bass
I bought this CD primarily for the recording of Elgar's Duet for Double bass and trombone. It contains a very wide variety of music, all of it good: however, because of the variety it is not often I feel like sitting down and listening to it in one sitting. It is more of a "dip into" CD.

Overall, tho, a very fine CD which shows off some of the textures available to the double bass.