​Corky Siegel (from the album Corky Siegel’s Symphonic Blues No. 6

​Corky Siegel (from the album Corky Siegel’s Symphonic Blues No. 6

​Corky Siegel (from the album Corky Siegel’s Symphonic Blues No. 6 on Dawnserly Records) (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Corky Siegel is an iconic artist in every sense of the word, and he’s earned that title for the better part of a nearly 60-year career. He made his mark as part of the Siegel- Schwall Band, whose two principals, among other accomplishments, happened to be the producers of a demo tape for Joni Mitchell that included the seminal song "Circle Game”. Siegel himself worked with Rado and Ragni on a four-man musical that would turn out to be the predecessor to the hit musical “Hair”. He also opened for two polar opposite performers, Bob Hope and George Carlin, as well as more likely suspects that included Steppenwolf, Buddy Guy, and Santana. To his credit however, Siegel has never rested on his laurels. He’s an innovator whose harmonica skills breach any number of boundaries. And while Symphonic Blues No. 6 may seem to some outside his normal wheelhouse, it’s actually the fourth of his symphonic commissions to date, but also the first since two previous benchmark album releases on the prestigious Deutsche Grammophone label recorded with Maestro Seiji Ozawa and the San Francisco Symphony in 1973 and 1977, respectively. As noted in a press release that accompanied the new album, Corky Siegel is the only Blues player to be  featured on the DG classical label, and his is the only classical string quartet featured as soloists on the Blues label Alligator Records. 
 
Symphonic Blues No. 6 was commissioned by Maestro Stephen Gunzenhauser and the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, premiered in 2008, and subsequently toured worldwide to critical acclaim. Now, as part of the celebration for his 80th birthday, Siegel assembled an orchestra consisting of first chair musicians from the Chicago Symphony and other orchestras, as well as those from his own Chamber Blues ensemble. In addition to various live performances consisting of “Movements I - III”, it marks the debut of the new “Wrecking Ball Sonata” for Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues ensemble, “Opus 11 for Solo Violin”, an audio book that retells his early history and how these particular projects came into being. 
 
While Blues aficionados may find the music a bit of a learning curve, at least in terms of finding common ground between these two seemingly disparate genres, classical music lovers will likely find plenty to admire. Clearly, a work of love, the various progressions effectively integrate Siegel’s harmonica and occasional vocal interjections with the sweep of strings and a series of stirring, spellbinding melodies. The particular pastiche that defines “Movement I - Filisko’s Dream” finds a facile blend of Corky Siegel’s searing and sprawling harmonica refrains and the piece’s grand, dramatic delivery. “Movement II - Slow Blues” thrives on mostly delicate designs. “Movement III - Allegro” comes across as somewhat quirky and yet also triumphant, a respite from the serious nature of the previous proceedings.  All three movements were captured live in concert. 
 
The later pieces — a scat-sung “CODA for Tabla and Harmonica”, the otherwise serene and calmingly sung “Wrecking Ball Sonata” and “Opus 11 for Solo Violin”, which is all it its title suggests — found the participating musicians recording their parts on their own, supposedly unaware of the parts others might be adding. To a great degree, the album is an oral documentary, given that its final 18 minutes and 48 seconds are devoted to Corky Siegel’s autobiographical reading, a lengthy addition to liner notes that repeat Siegel’s spoken narrative. Clearly, this is an album that requires a deep listen, and then brings with it ardent appreciation.
(by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Listen and buy the music of Corky Siegel from AMAZON
 
For more information, please visit the Corky Siegel website