Music Director, Jeri Lynne Johnson's thoughtful presentations are a fascinating mixture of music and history.  The "lessons" are delivered through informative program notes, short narratives from Johnson and musicians, and a careful selection of music.  Rather than a dry delivery of information, Johnson spices up the program by including the native form of music that weaved its way into the classical genre through it's influence on the composers.  Faced with these direct comparisons the listener can more fully understand and appreciate the music.  

In February the program demonstrated the influence of 19th-century Negro spirituals on Dvorak's "New World Symphony".  Johnson ratcheted up the fun factor last night by showing how exposure to Dixieland jazz dramatically affected the musical compositions of Darius Milhaud and Igor Stravinsky.  Prior to the intermission, the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra performed pre-jazz works from the composers.  The delicate and intricate notes from Stravinsky's "Octet for Wind Instruments" were then blown to bits by the the ruckus Rodney Mack Philadelphia Brass Band who marched onto the stage belting out a selection of Dixieland jazz tunes.  The range of sounds emanating from Wycliffe Gordon's trombone was jaw dropping and the rest of the band was no slouch, either.

The conclusion of the "lesson" was Black Pearl's performance of the jazz influenced works by the classical music composers:

Igor Stravinsky:  "Ragtime, For 11 Instruments

Darius Milhaud:  "La creation du mond, ballet for orchestra, Op.81"

It was interesting to hear not only the influence of jazz in these works, but also how the two composer's individual interpretations were so varied.  Stravinsky added the instruments and elements on the surface of his piece, but Milhaud succeeded in incorporating the heart and sole of jazz into his work.  Perhaps this was due to Milaud's immersion into jazz through the many nights he spent soaking it all up in the clubs of Harlem.  

You can be sure that this listener will be adding Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra's 2011-2012 performances to her calendar.  Thank you, Jeri Lynne Johnson and musicians for a fascinating and fun evening.