Organ Improvisations
Wayne Marshall, organist
The Lay Family Concert Organ, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, Texas
“I’m essentially an improvisatory animal, and unless a piece speaks directly to me, I’d rather stick to my own invention” – Wayne Marshall
Internationally known British organist Wayne Marshall has an exceptionally varied and wide-ranging career. Organist-in-residence at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, he has been featured as solo organist or solo pianist (and sometimes in both capacities) in London’s prestigious Prom concerts, with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Dallas Symphony, to name just a few. Mr. Marshall, along with his many talents, has emerged as one of the few organ improvisationists around. This CD focuses on Mr. Marshall’s amazing ability to improvise on any piece of music (he doesn’t just perform works for organ or piano), and, as an added interest, the improvisations are of music usually associated with the Jazz genre. It is obvious that Mr. Marshall thoroughly understands just what Gershwin, as an example, was about, for his recent focus in his career has been the study of the correspondence between the jazz and classical piano traditions. Combine this intimate understanding of the music with brilliant technical mastery of the organ, and you have an exciting, unique experience not to be missed by any fan of either classical or jazz music.
Original improvisations on:
George Gershwin: I Got Rhythm; Someone to Watch Over Me; I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise; Bess, You is My Woman Now; I Loves You, Porgy; I Got Plenty of Nuttin’
Jule Styne: Let It Snow
Billy Strayhorn: Take the A-Train
Vincent Youmans: Tea for Two
Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story Medley (includes: Tonight, America, Maria)
