Vinyl Vault: Claude Bolling, Yo Yo Ma, “Suite for Cello and Jazz Piano Trio”

In 1975, French pianist Claude Bolling got together with his fellow countryman and flute player Jean Pierre Rampal and released “Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio.” It was a combination of classical music and jazz and it turned out to be a big hit. The album kicked off a series of albums by Bolling following a similar formula of his piano trio together with a star of classical music to perform further classical – jazz fusion suites.

Next time on the Vinyl Vault, we’ll hear several tracks from one of those albums, “Suite for Cello and Jazz Piano Trio,” featuring Yo Yo Ma on cello. Bolling and Ma were joined by Marc Michel on bass and Jean-Luc Dayan on drums. The cello suite follows in the footsteps of the flute suite with Rampal, and listeners who have enjoyed that album will find this one delightful as well.

“Suite for Cello and Jazz Piano Trio” also carries on the tradition of an album cover with personified instruments. Whereas the flute suite depicted the piano and flute in bed together, the cello suite album has the instruments in the kitchen, cooking up something tasty.

Join Geoff Anderson for some classical – jazz fusion on the next Vinyl Vault, this Tuesday, May 19, at 8:30 p.m. on KUVO JAZZ.