Gone 'Bolling' with Eugenia Zukerman


I typically try to refrain from writing about every concert experience, but this time is particularly exciting. Having worn out the 1973 cassette of the Claude Bolling 'Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano' (and lost the thing--had to find the cd online), and the fact that the amazing flutist, Eugenia Zukerman performed and toured with Claude Bolling with his 'Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano' during the 1980s, made the first rehearsal a dream come true for me. The recording with Jean-Pierre Rampal was a big hit back in the mid-1970s, and is such a remarkable piece blending jazz with Baroque. Accompanying us is the bassist Pablo Aslan and percussionist John Hollenbeck. [The concerts are Saturday evening (August 13) and Sunday afternoon (August 14) at the Barge by the Brooklyn Bridge]. The sound of the live instruments gave me the chance to feel free, improvising and taking in the glorious sound of my fellow instrumentalists. After 30 years, I finally got the piece out in the open and watched the boats passing along the New York skyline--that the boat rocked quite a bit was par for the course, but worth every rock and sway.