The Planets: Reimagined (CD)
The new big band record by arranger Jeremy Levy is an ambitious project. After witnessing a stirring performance of Gustav Holst's orchestral suite by The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Levy decided his next record would be a massive jazz adaptation of the famous work.
Compact Disc
1. Mars - 7:22
2. Venus - 5:51
3. Mercury - 3:38
4. Jupiter - 7:41
5. Saturn - 9:24
6. Uranus - 5:39
7. Neptune - 7:33
"Each movement required a new frame of reference. My original inspirations were the Afro-Cuban rhythms from my time spent in Miami, the classic swing of the Count Basie Orchestra, the hard-grooving shuffles of the Buddy Rich Big Band, the progressive rock fusion of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and the acoustic guitar-driven jazz of the Pat Metheny Group. This record is the distillation of all these influences mixed with my love of the symphony orchestra," says Levy.
"Jeremy Levy masterfully adapted and transformed Holst’s musical themes into gripping, thundering, and swinging big band anthems. He stayed true to Holst’s initial emotions towards each planet but elevated the pieces to stratospheric jazz works," says seven time Grammy nominee Chris Walden in the liner notes.
Levy is a Los Angeles based composer. This is his first self titled big band release, after his debut record with the Budman/Levy Orchestra, "From There to Here." He is best known for his arranging work with the Metropole Orkest, the National Symphony Orchestra, and his orchestration work on 100s of films, television shows, and video games.
