Title : Yo-Yo Ma & Bobby McFerrin: Hush
Author : McFerrin, Bobby
Release Date : 19920128
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $17.98
Amazon.com Price : $12.90
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Editorial Reviews : The idea here was to put two masters together--one classical cellist, one improvisational singer/sound-effects performer--and voilą! instant amazing, unique, hip--and, hopefully, hit--record. The intriguing setup was to see what would happen when each led the other through the unfamiliar territory of his own specialty. The success of this recording lies not so much in the music or even in the overall performances, but in the fascinating and fun opportunity to sit in on the musicians' good-natured, respectful give-and-take, to witness an uncommon form of artistic chemistry that allows each performer to expand his vision and even his technique. On one hand we get Bobby McFerrin's impressionistic, improvisatory jazz/pop; on the other we enjoy Yo-Yo Ma's highly refined, formalized musicianship. Originally planned as a disc for children, Hush goes far beyond its initial premise, with each of the 13 tracks demonstrating these musicians' unique gifts and showing that, whether it's Vivaldi or jazz, it's all music and it's all a lot of fun. --David Vernier
Buyer Reviews : While studying for an exam one evening, I happen to hear Arsenio Hall introduce Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin and nearly fell off my chair... I rushed in to hear their version of Bach's 'Air on G' in memory of those who had been injured or killed in the April riots in LA (1992). I immediately went and purchased the cassette of the album. And I fell in love.
McFerrin gives new life and humor to several pieces that one thinks as 'serious' classical standards (Bach's 'Musette'). I enjoy the exploration of McFerrin's voice and the tremendous talent and flexible playing of Yo-Yo Ma on this CD. Some of McFerrin's vocalising reminds me of Gregorian Chants, which was interesting to hear with Ma's classical music playing... For purists of the classical genre, they may be less amused with the treatments.
The imagination and talent that flows from this work continues to reinforce the reasons why I love classical music -- the ability for one to put personal emotion to a piece and also enjoy it for its own sake.
For those looking for something different, fun and funky, it's a great buy. For the purist, you may want to pass...
