RECOROS

LLP 2023

One of Jazzdom’s hottest composers today 1s a hippie known as Johann

Sebastian Bach. He will be dead 214 years when the New York World’s Fair opens... but his music is as contemporary as the most advanced

exhibit at the Fair.

While Bach did not write jazz per se, hts melodic lines do lend themselves

to updated interpretations. Without having to change one note of the

original scores, Conductor-Arranger Robert Mandell has “modernized”

the various pieces here by adding a rhythm section and setting them into

4/4 time. The result 1s a swinging series of performances that haunt the listener, causing him to marvel at Bach’s transcendent genius. The ulti- mate tribute to the composer's greatness ts the fact that today, over 200

yeais after it was written, his music swings. Nor does this demean has work. Bach was noted for his improvisations. Indeed, he once lost a post-

tion in the court of the Duke of Arnstadt for, among other things, playing

“unseemly” variations on the organ while his congregation was trying

vainly to sing the chorales.

Even the purist may listen and enjoy with a free conscience. Over the years there have been many interpretations as to the proper tempo,

dynamic level, etc. for the performance of Bach’s works. Let ‘this be

added to the lst.

... About Robert Mandell.

Youthful Com poser-conductor-arranger Robert Mandell ts a graduate of

New York’s famed Julliard School of Music.

Acclaimed by his musical contemporaries as well as the critics, he has been called “a young man of outstanding gifts’ by Leonard Bernstein

and “a young conductor generously endowed with a natural talent, care-

fully nurtured and well developed,” by Charles Munch.

In a few brief years, Mandell has rolled up an impressive list of credits.

As a musical director ana conductor he has led such ensembles as the

Philadelphia Little Symphony, The Westchester Symphony, The Ars

Nova Ensemble, and the York Symphony. He has appeared as guest con-

ductor before the Symphony of the Air, the Knickerbocker Chamber

Players, the Wheeling Symphony and the Fort Lauderdale Symphony.

His television credits include service with the much-acclaimed “Omnt-

bus’, a tenure as music director for Agnes De Mille’s “The Art of Chore-

ography” and “The Art of Ballet’. (This latter was chosen for perform-

ance at the Brussels World’s Fatr in 1960), and service as special assistant

to Leonard Bernstein for the New York Philharmonic Young People’s

Concert. LINER NOTES — DENNIS HYLAND

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE

RECORDED ALLEGRO SOUND STUDIO — NEW YORK CITY

MORE LAURIE LLP 2023

OF THK GREATEST HITS

BACH SIDE ONE

Prelude in C Major from The Well Tempered Clavier — 1:57

Prelude in A minor — 2:30

Two Part Invention in A minor — 1:35

Largo from Piano Concerto in F minor — 3:24

Versus Il from Cantata #4 — 2:06

SIDE TWO

Sheep May Safely Graze — 3:35

Musette — 1:32

Little Prelude in F Major — 1:21

Aria from The Coffee Contata — 2:19

“Little’’ Fugue in G minor — 3:46

COVER DESIGN — MILLER, BODDEN & RICH 2 PRINTED IN U.S.A.

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