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Bach Improvisations - Live In Concert album cover

Album guide

Bach Improvisations - Live In Concert

Ira Stein Trio

Composer
J.S. Bach
Released
1999
Label
Lost Time Records
Forces
Piano, Cello, Saxophone, Trio
Personnel
Ira Stein piano, Joseph Hébert cello, Dann Zinn soprano saxophone

Ira Stein built this live programme from nine Bach chorales and sacred pieces rather than the familiar instrumental showpieces. His trio is equally unconventional: piano, cello and soprano saxophone, recorded at Yoshi’s in Oakland in September 1998.

Joseph Hébert’s cello moves between bowed melody and a pizzicato bass role, while Dann Zinn’s saxophone pulls the music firmly towards jazz. A reviewer who attended one of the recording sessions remembered “Jesu, meine Freude” making the walls shake.

Hear both

The classical side contains only the source pieces used on the album, in album order. The jazz side presents the complete album whenever a dependable copy can be embedded.

The originalsJ.S. Bach · classical source works

The listening queues above follow the same order. The classical player omits tracks that are not based on a classical original.

Jazzed upIra Stein Trio · 1999
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Source works

The album’s complete track listing, with each classical source identified and original compositions marked plainly.

  1. Das Neugeborne Kindelein (The New-borne Babe - BWV 122)Das neugeborne Kindelein, BWV 122: No. 1, chorale fantasia
  2. Nun Liegt Alles Unter Dir (Now All Lies Beneath Thee - BWV 11)Ascension Oratorio, BWV 11: No. 6, chorale ‘Nun lieget alles unter dir’
  3. Es Woll’ Uns Gott Gnädig Sein (May God Be Merciful To Us - BWV 311)Es woll uns Gott genädig sein, four-part chorale, BWV 311
  4. Hilf, Herr Jesu, Lass Gelingen (Help, Lord Jesus, Send Good Speed - BWV 248)Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Part IV: No. 42, chorale
  5. Liebster Jesu, Wir Sind Hier (Dearest Jesus, We Are Here - BWV 373)Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, four-part chorale, BWV 373
  6. O Mensch, Bewein’ Dein’ Sünde Gross (O Man, Bewail Thy Great Sins - BWV 402)O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross, four-part chorale, BWV 402
  7. Wir Glauben All’ An Einen Gott, Schöpfer (We All Believe In One God, One Creator - BWV 437)Wir glauben all an einen Gott, Schöpfer, four-part chorale, BWV 437
  8. Jesu, Meine Freude (Jesus, My Joy - BWV 227)Jesu, meine Freude, motet BWV 227: the chorale ‘Jesu, meine Freude’, movement I
  9. Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist (Come, God The Creator, Holy Ghost - BWV 370)Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist, four-part chorale, BWV 370