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 : I saw a review of this CD in CD Review magazine when it was first released. They gave it a perfect 10/10 rating. No surprise. Whoever thought to pair these two geniuses in their respective fields should be given the Nobel Prize for Music (that's right, there isn't one. . .). McFerrin is a master of jazz vocalise and improvisation, while Ma is a master of straight classical work: Up meets Down, In meets Out, Over meets Under, Scribble meets Straight Line, Improvisation meets Structure, and the results are a beautiful Between. When they are serious, they sound phenomenal together. When they are having fun, they sound phenomenal together. The listener wins!
On track 2, 'Andante,' it is virtually impossible to distinguish McFerrin's voice from Ma's cello at first listen. They move through this piece as a cohesive unit. Stellar tracks are Rachmaninov's 'Vocalise' and Bach's 'Air' -- both are just traditional classical pieces performed to their utmost potential by two gifted artists. They also have moments of fun, like on 'Hoedown!' and 'Coyote,' and McFerrin even pokes fun of NPR on Bach's 'Musette,' while giving a Jimi Hendrix plug at the beginning of his vocalizing.
I could picture straight-laced classical purists shying away from this kind of tomfoolery, and jazz purists might find the classical pieces too confining. They are both missing out, though. McFerrin had shown shades of this kind of work 'Lullaby' and 'Psalm 23' on his MEDICINE MAN disc and even on PLAY with Chick Corea. This is a new side of Yo-Yo Man, however, and one which I would like to see again. I would pay big bucks to have been a fly on the wall during these recoring sessions!!! OFFICIUM, by Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble, is reminiscent of this kind of classical meets jazz work, but it even has a whole different feel than HUSH. If you are a fan of either artist, you will appreciate what he brings to the table and gain a new respect for what the other can bring, as well. On the real short list for 'desert island' classical CDs (that's the category in which I put it). Well worth a listen!
