Two Worlds

Personnel includes: Lee Ritenour (guitar); Dave Grusin (piano); Renee Fleming (vocals); Gil Shaham, Ralph Morrison, Margaret Batjer (violin); Roland Kato, Karen Elaine Bakunin, Carole Castillo (viola); Julian Lloyd Webber, Steve Erdody, Cecilia Tsan, Christina Soule (cello); James Walker (flute); Ed Meares, Tom Kennedy (bass); Alex Acuna (drums, percussion); Luis Conte (percussion).

Engineers include: Don Murray.

Recorded at Starlight Studio, Los Angeles, California; Capitol Records Studios, Hollywood, California; Avatar Studio, New York, New York between December 1999 and June 2000. Includes liner notes by Chris Roberts and Albert Imperato.

Personnel: Mark Sazer, Gary Kuo, Ralph Morrison III, Michelle Kim, Rachel Purkin, Lisa Sutton, Richard Altenbach, Julie Gigante, Natalie Leggett, Sara Parkins, Gil Shaham, Lesa Terry, Roger Wilkie, Margaret Wooten, Liane Mautner, Susan Rishik, Mario Diaz de Leon (violin); Carole Castillo, Scott Haupert, Carrie Holzman-Little, Keith Green, Jennie Hansen, Roland Kato, Renita Koven (viola); Julian Lloyd Webber (cello); Alex Acuña (drums, percussion); Luis Conte (percussion).

Recording information: Avatar Studio, New York, NY (12/1999-06/2000); Capital Records Studios, Hollywood, CA (12/1999-06/2000); Starlight Studio, Los Angeles, CA (12/1999-06/2000).

Forging a unique creative relationship, Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin's mutual professional history extends back some two decades. Ritenour was a core artist on Grusin's label, GRP, throughout the 1980s and early '90s; in 1986, they first collaborated on the Grammy Award winning Harlequin, a critically-acclaimed, Brazilian-themed recording. Ritenour also appeared on many of the pianist/composer's film scores and solo recordings, and the two jammed together on GRP Super Live in 1987. Two Worlds, the classical-oriented labor of love that reunites the two legends, is more than simply a beautiful creative departure from their usual jazz-oriented projects. A blend of original compositions and respectful reworkings of timeless classics from Bach, Bartok, Villalobos, Mompov, and Segovia, the collection -- which features stellar guest performances by opera star Renee Fleming, violinist Gil Shaham, and cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber -- finds Ritenour and Grusin joyously reconnecting with their rich classical roots. Among the highlights are the lush, highly percussive Vivaldi/Bach piece "Bach Concerto, featuring a twenty-piece string section; "Bachianas Aria," a piece from Brazilian composer Villalobos, provides a showcase for opera diva Renee Fleming. As for the original compositions, there's the haunting, melodic "Elegia," which Grusin composed many years ago for his late father, a violinist, featuring Gil Shaham; "Lagrima (Lee's Prelude)," a graceful Ritenour original led by the classical guitar; "River's Song," Grusin's clever medley adaptation of the folk songs "The Water Is Wide" and "Shenandoah," featuring Fleming on vocals and "Canto," an Italian-styled "winter song" which Grusin originally wrote for a Ritenour project in the late '70s. Timeless yet contemporary, Two Worlds is beautiful reunion of these musical soul mates. ~ Jonathan Widran

REVIEWS:

JazzTimes (12/00, p.90) - "...Heartrending....Each arrangement fits the artists' dexterity and dynamic interpretive ability like a glove..."

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Works Details

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Concerto for 4 Harpsichords in A minor, BWV 1065 :: 1. All

Performers: Dave Grusin (Piano); Lee Ritenour (Guitar)
Notes: Composition written: 1730.
Running Time: 4 min. 34 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1730

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachiana brasileira no 5 for Soprano and 8 Cellos :: Aria (Cantilena)

Performers: Renée Fleming (Soprano); Lee Ritenour (Guitar); Dave Grusin (Piano)
Running Time: 5 min. 5 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Vocal
Written: 1938

Torroba, Federico Moreno : Sonatina for guitar :: 2. Andante

Performers: Lee Ritenour (Guitar); Dave Grusin (Piano)
Running Time: 4 min. 32 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1926

Grusin, Dave : Elegia, for 2 violins ("A Henri") :: Introduction and Epilogue from "Liebesleid"

Performers: Gil Shaham (Violin); Lee Ritenour (Guitar); Dave Grusin (Piano); Ralph Morrison
Running Time: 3 min. 22 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

Falla, Manuel de : Suite Populaire Espagnole :: 3. C

Performers: Lee Ritenour (Guitar); Dave Grusin (Piano); James Walker
Running Time: 3 min. 59 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1926

Francisco Tárrega (1852 - 1909) : Lagrima

Performers: Lee Ritenour (Guitar); Dave Grusin (Piano)
Running Time: 4 min. 19 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: circa 1880-1905

Musto, John [Piano] : River Songs (The Water Is Wide/Shenandoah)

Performers: Dave Grusin (Piano); Renée Fleming (Soprano); Lee Ritenour (Guitar)
Notes: This selection is a medley which includes "The Water Is Wide" by Traditional and "Shenandoah" by Traditional.
Running Time: 7 min. 1 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 2002

Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945) : Romanian Folkdances (6) for Piano, Sz 56 :: Stick Dance - Sash Dance - S

Performers: Gil Shaham (Violin); Lee Ritenour (Guitar); Dave Grusin (Piano)
Notes: Composition written: 1915.
Running Time: 6 min. 45 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1915

Mompou, Federico : Suite compostelana, for guitar :: 3. Cuna

Performers: Dave Grusin (Piano); Lee Ritenour (Guitar)
Running Time: 4 min. 26 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1962

Falla, Manuel de : Suite Populaire Espagnole :: 1. E

Performers: Lee Ritenour (Guitar); James Walker; Dave Grusin (Piano)
Running Time: 3 min. 18 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1926

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Sonata for Flute and Harpsichord in E flat major, BWV 1031 :: Siciliana

Performers: Julian Lloyd Webber (Cello); Lee Ritenour (Guitar); Dave Grusin (Piano)
Running Time: 2 min. 13 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1730-1734

Grusin, Dave : Canto Invierno, for guitar & piano

Performers: Lee Ritenour (Guitar); Dave Grusin (Piano)
Running Time: 3 min. 59 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

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