Serenade #4: La Graciela

The unidentified author of the booklet notes for A. Paul Johnson’s new CD, Xtreme Classical, describes the title as “the ultimate fusion of pop-jazz-folk-latin-blues-minimalist-theatre music from the Americas with the classical traditions of European concert music” which Johnson “pioneered…in his early works from the 70’s.” That’s a rather large range of music to consolidate, but Johnson’s work, which is clearly in the tradition of other polystylistic amalgamators such as William Bolcom and Michael Sahl, teems with infectious energy. A work like his Serenade No. 4 – La Graciela—could this be named after the legendary lead singer of Machito’s mambo band?—sounds like great fun to play, especially the cascading solo clarinet part which Richard Stoltzman clearly enjoys navigating on this recording.

—FJO