The Jazz Age

This unique album is a wonderful snapshot of American jazz in an orchestral setting. Most classical music aficionados are familiar with George Gershwin and his works such as Rhapsody in Blue, but there are also a number of less-famous composers who wrote around the same time who are no less brilliant. These composers also interacted with and influenced each other. For example, James Price Johnson also wrote a rhapsody, entitled Yamekraw, Negro Rhapsody, which is a sophisticated work full of tempo changes, varied rhythms, and various moods and character. (William Grant Still orchestrated this piece.) Yamekraw swings and is syncopated, giving it a very dancelike feel, and the Hot Springs Music Festival Symphony Orchestra does an excellent job bringing the music alive without ever making it rigid. Not only do it play beautifully on this first piece, but also through the rest of the album, where it truly captures all the moods jazz pieces require while never losing strong classical technique. It is much to conductor Richard Rosenberg's credit that all of the pieces have energy and good musical taste.

The Jazz Age is the second album by the British alternative rock band Jack, released in August 1998. It was recorded in Wales and London in late 1997 and early 1998, and was produced by Darren Allison, who had previously worked with The Divine Comedy and Spiritualized. It was the band's second - and last - album for the Too Pure label, and the last to feature original members Richard Adderley, Patrick Pulzer, Colin Williams and George Wright. Despite excellent reviews and extensive touring in support of the album, sales were disappointing. This led in part to the band being dropped by their record label in 1999.