CLAUDE BOLLING: SUITE FOR FLUTE AND JAZZ...

CLAUDE BOLLING: SUITE FOR FLUTE AND JAZZ PIANO. Bolling, piano. Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute. CBS Masterworks MK 33233 Compact Disc. “PICNIC” SUITE FOR FLUTE, GUITAR AND JAZZ PIANO. Bolling, piano. Rampal, flute. Alexandre Lagoya, guitar. CBS Masterworks MK 35864 Compact Disc. SUITE FOR VIOLIN AND JAZZ PIANO. Bolling, piano. Pinchas Zukerman, violin. CBS Masterworks MK 35128 Compact Disc. SUITE FOR CELLO AND JAZZ PIANO. Bolling, piano. Yo Yo Ma, cello. CBS Masterworks MK 39059 Compact Disc. Bolling’s music is like popcorn. If you like it, you can’t get enough of it. If you don’t, you can’t understand why so many people enjoy it. The millions who bought Bolling’s original LPs will be delighted to know that the digital remastering gives those originals more clarity and realism; the stereophonic separation is at times startling, but never inappropriate. There is no question that these are representative performances played with more virtuosity than the music demands. The Suite for flute and jazz piano is infectious stuff and Rampal romps through it hardly pausing for breath. “Picnic” Suite is prototypal Bolling, ingratiating melodies surrounded by jazz rhythms forced into a classical format. The violin suite showcases Zukerman and contains some of Bolling’s sweetest melodies. The CD sound is stunning. Yo-Yo Ma is equally adept in the cello suite, especially in the rousing fourth movement.