Hall Overton has always shown a great deal of interest in the field of jazz, both as a performer and an arranger. As a pianist he has recorded with such jazz luminaries as Stan Getz, Teddy Charles, Jimmy Roney and Oscar Pettiford, and recently collaborated with Thelonious Monk in scoring for the latter’s orchestra.
Elements of his earlier teachers as well as certain aspects of his jazz interest have found their way into Overton’s music. At no time, however, do these influences preclude his own superb imagination and originality. One reviewer, commenting on a performance of his Second String Quartet that took place in 1958, noted a “smoldering intensity underlying its surface lyricism,” while another was struck by “the composer’s facility and affinity for strings.” He continued, “Its voice-leading has logic, its musical content lyricism and spirit.”
Ezra Laderman’s String Quartet is in three movements marked: Adagio con amore-con moto, Adagio and Vivace. The piece opens with a canon at the octave that forms an introduction to the movement. Following this the first theme is stated in what might be considered a sonata form. The major germinal element of this theme, a motive that can be traced throughout the quartet.
A second theme is suggested by the augmentation of the principle one except that now it takes on the character of a graceful cantilena accompanied by a counter-theme (found also underlying the first theme) that has its roots in the introduction. Following a brief transitional section utilizing the material of the introduction, the movement returns to the themes of the Allegro closing out with a rhythmically driving and intense final thrust.
Wispy arpeggios form the accompaniment of the second movement against which a strongly intoned viola entrance presents us with the first notes of the quartet introduction. After two false starts the first violin is permitted to state the main melody of the movement. This section is a model of subtle rubato and the veiled quality of the accompaniment is never allowed to obscure the melodic configuration.
The final movement is fast, exciting and direct. The material, though familiar, is still more varied in its presentation, but never obscure.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Hall Overton & Ezra Laderman: String Quartets
| MP3/320 | $7.99 | |
| FLAC | $7.99 | |
| WAV | $7.99 | |
| CD-R | $7.99 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Second String Quartet: I. Allegro cantabile
Hall Overton
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Second String Quartet: II. Allegro con spirito
Hall Overton
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String Quartet: I. Adagio con amore; con moto
Ezra Laderman
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String Quartet: II. Adagio
Ezra Laderman
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String Quartet: III. Vivace
Ezra Laderman
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