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Joseph Ashley - Concerto and Rhapsody
- Joseph Ashley displays his sensitive harmonica technique in Concerto and Rhapsody, which features Tcherepnin’s Harmonica Concerto. Although an unlikely instrument for a concerto, Ashley’s harmonica easily becomes a classical instrument, one that is distinctly different from its typical bluegrass role. Ashley easily shows his musical prowess in capturing the beautiful tone of the harmonica in both classical works and well-known Gershwin classics.
Ashley’s harmonica playing in Tcherepnin’s Harmonica Concerto is, to put it frankly, quite beautiful. He blends well with the skilled orchestra, and his tone and technical skill show the depth of musicality the harmonica is capable of achieving.
Ashley shows his talented skills on every track of this unforgettable album, but particularly so in Gershwin’s “The Man I Love.” Surprisingly enough, Ashley’s harmonica can swell and bend as easily as other typical jazz instruments. An innovative classic for the harmonica playing alone, “The Man I Love,” has a wonderful, timeless sound, and the playing is first-rate.
A self-taught player, Ashley is an excellent player, one who gives the harmonica a new voice. He should be commended for his work in Tcherepnin’s Harmonica Concerto, which, although slightly unusual, is in no way a technically or musically easy piece. Ashley is a diverse player, incorporating both classical pieces, Gershwin standards and popular songs, like “Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso.” Concerto and Rhapsody is a one-of-its-kind album, one that showcases excellent harmonica playing.
Reviewer: C.J. Trent
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Reviewer's Rating: 8
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Reader's Votes: 0
Added: 4-May-2008
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