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A ReviewArtistry, Showmanship MarkDon Shirley Trio’s ConcertA delighted audience, flushed j “Rhapsody In Blue” one might with pleasure and rejoicing in jwish for more focus and bril-fcbe attractive and comfortable | liance of tone in the more flam-surroundings of the new Gov- boyant passages. But on the eraor Thomas Johnson auditor- j whole, his technic is admir-ium, enthusiastically acclaimed able and does credit to his the Don Shirley Trio on Satur- training and splendid musicalday evening. background. When he had fin-Mr. Shirley does not approve jshedJjV4* “My . ^(cret of printed programs - nit any 'Love ,Uler? i™ ??ubt “ more than he approves of “y“e±.m!™!,.*boUt h“ abll‘ “classical” music according to his concept of the generally accepted meaning of that term,ity to play trills.Paradoxically, the program got very well started with Ver-i nor jazz, nor dixieland, a per-1 non Duke’s “I Can’t Get Start-former of all three of which he ed” which was quite handsome* quite passionately declares that1 ly arranged and smoothly exe-he is not Precisely what he is euted, and the chatty style of he declares with considerably “Happy Talk” was truly de-less precision. Those who are lightful. However, the arrange* not devotees of his kind of mu-, ment of “Blowing in the Wind” j sic — whatever it is — were1 seemed just a mite melodrama* might be described as insulted, tic for the type of music in* ’by the absence of programs;but Mr. Shirley made everything all right, we suppose, by rattling off the names of the first six or eight selections af-volved, but it had its moments.Despite the fact that the arlt; list’s post-intermission remarks on music were quite militantly nationalistic (thisI . i ■it», i*{program was not to be dassi-charmingly and wittily sarcastic ^ }azz nor dixieland but was about programs those who like jto ^ de{mitely American), thethem, those who use them, t entertainment did, fortunately, those who use musical termmol- a Mnata (Eogy lt;hich he is sure even most major) wMch was ^ ^ ^musicians do not understand), those who speak of the formof Mr. Shirley’s solo work; Bach’s “Sheep May Safe-of musical compositions and j G „ and Sehumannisthose who. he says feel that TheSe two latterthey know all about a piece , causedone to wonder if the! °f mu“ they k”ow !\s • performer’s reason for using1 name Mr. Shirley may be right, ^ ^ own arrangements, but it is your reviewer’s oprn-' js ^ and harml“* ego_ ion that one knows somewhat j tistical whether it might ®ot, ? aJ0Ua a *pl*ce 1 mU5!C : be that, when he performs hiswhen he doesnt even know its own arrangements, he keeps the!namelt; j average listener from detectingj However, (to use the artist’s ' mistakes. We do feel that, if thefavorite word), all quibbling pianist knows Robert Schumann j aside, the Shirley trio obvious- 1 (and really Mr. Shirley does I ly knows the secret of pleasing not look old enough for this) an audience. The leader of this to call him “Bob” he oughtgroup displays marked talent and a high degree of subtlety in his showmanship as well as into be able to strike a few more of the “right” notes.However, it In not the func-his artistry and mastery of bis .. . ’ . -. .„ ,n• , ___, ou-, . ,. . turn of the reviewer to listeninstrument Shirley is an artistto be reckoned with as are also the other two able and well-trained gentlemen who round out the trip. Juri Toht, cellist, and Kenneth Frieker, bassist. Mr. Taht’s performance produced moments of warmth and delightful depth of tone while Mr. Frieker gave a magnificent demonstration of relaxed bass technique especially in his solo rendition of the spiritual “Were you There.**However, the performance was dominated by Mr. Shirley’s remarkable technical versatility. The tones he draws from the piano are rich and seductively velvety, in fact too much so attimes when, as in the Gershwin |for errors, and it is the function of the entertainer to entertain. This the Don ShirleyTrio accomplished with considerable skill. Your reviewer has not been so highly entertained in many a month, and the audience in general seemed to share in this delight.Don Shirley is a man with a message, and although we are assured more conclusively as to what it is not rather than as towhat it is and we wonder if he knows, still he Is a great showman and a talented young man in a group of talented young men. All in all, we “had a blast!”MARY PAULHAMUS
Newspaper Details
News
Frederick, Maryland, US
Tue, Oct 11, 1966
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Grace S.
NA, 12 Mar 2022
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