Fantasy
Wycliffe Gordon
The trombonist completely transforms a classical piece
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One of the great jazz trombonists of all time, Wycliffe Gordon can play anything from New Orleans jazz to free improvisations and, while possessing a remarkable technique, he never lets technical aspects get in the way of his wit and sense of swing.
For this solo performance from around 2005, Gordon performs Malcolm Arnold’s classical piece “Fantasy,” but very much in his own way.
While keeping the melody around and quoting from the classical work, Gordon turns the music into a rambunctious blues, an exploration of colorful sounds, and his own witty fantasy.
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald