The Minnesota Orchestra’s concert on July 21 will celebrate the talent of one of its own, the trumpeter and jazz composer
Charles Lazarus. Not only will Lazarus play as a soloist, but the program will include a selection of his original compositions, which will be paired with Louis Moreau Gottschalk’s seminal 1861 symphony Night in the Tropics, a Cuban-flavored affair that is said to have anticipated New Orleans jazz by a half-century. Lazarus’s works—“Kilauea’s Fountains,” “Waves,” and “Dance Honu”—go nicely with Gottschalk’s tropical tones; these are brassy, Hawaiian-flavored numbers cut with hula and chant. We wondered what influences might have informed this sound, so we asked Lazarus to name his favorite songs.
1. “The Sinister Minister,” by Béla Fleck & the Flecktones
The title always makes me laugh. It makes me think of some character in a really cheesy horror movie. It features one of my favorite bass players, Victor Wooten. I love the mix of banjo and harmonica in a groovy rock context. Maybe I owe that to growing up with North Carolina bluegrass. For some reason, it makes me crave barbecue.
2. “Summertime” off the album Miles Davis – Porgy and Bess
Nothing beats the soulful expressiveness of Miles Davis—particularly when paired with Gil Evans’s innovative orchestrations. It’s almost impossible not to feel cool while listening to this.
3. “Orchestral Suite No. 3” off the album German Brass Bach 2000
This is the perfect listen-to-at-brunch CD. My favorite moment comes at 1:17 when the most perfect note comes soaring out of the high horn part. It’s the best single second of any CD I own, played by one of the best brass groups of all time.
4. “Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)” off the album Getz/Gilberto
It’s the combo of the evocative lyrics and Astrud Gilberto’s sultry vocals [the famous voice behind “The Girl From Ipanema”] mixed with Tom Jobim’s bossa nova—everything is so laid back and in the pocket.
5. “Neruda Trumpet Concerto” by Maurice André
This is actually from a cassette of an album long out of print. I might spend the rest of my life trying to play one note as beautifully as any on this recording.
6. “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang
When I was in fourth grade, my best friend Jody Bowman and I used to bring a boombox to the school playground. We would strut around with the box on our shoulder and rap while everyone else played kickball. We took it very seriously. Sometimes I’d even wear a leisure suit!
7. “Red Sun” off Anoushka Shankar’s album Rise
This is an ultra-modern, hip version of the Indian art of vocal percussion called konnakol. She has taken an ancient tradition and modernized it with rockin’ club grooves. One night I spent hours rewinding one tiny section, trying to figure out the patterns. Lucky for me, the tune grooves so hard you don’t have to understand it to enjoy it.
8. “Don’t Wait Too Long” off Madeleine Peyroux’s album Careless Love
My girlfriend and I heard this for the first time on a television commercial and for some reason it captured our attention and we ended up dancing in front of the TV. Madeleine Peyroux is like a modern-day Billie Holiday—gorgeous voice.
9. “Janine” off Thievery Corporation’s album DJ Kicks
I love how this album is like one giant seamless tune. It puts the organic, earthy sounds of the tabla in a trip-hop setting. There’s something very moody and primal about it.
10. “Punahele” by Sonny Lim, off the compilation Slack Key Guitar Vol. 2
This CD is ideal stress relief. It won a Grammy a couple of years ago and features traditional and modern Hawaiian slack key guitar. After about a minute of listening, I’m on the beach. This tends to be a particular favorite of mine in February, living in Minnesota.
Charles Lazarus and the Minnesota Orchestra perform Night in the Tropics on July 21. Sommerfest runs July 13 through August 5. 612-371-5656. www.minnesotaorchestra.org
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