It's a first as orchestras combine in Rhapsody

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra joins forces with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for the first time to play Rhapsody in Blue with Japanese piano virtuoso Makoto Ozone at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Saturday May 4.

Ozone will be the featured soloist in a new, extended orchestration by SNJO artistic director, saxophonist Tommy Smith that will mark the centenary of George Gershwin’s iconic jazz age composition.

“This is a milestone in the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s near thirty-year career,” says Smith, who also re-orchestrated the SNJO’s successful 2009 recording of Rhapsody in Blue. 

“To be invited to perform in collaboration with the internationally respected RSNO is an honour and a thrill. We’re very excited at the prospect of working with such an esteemed ensemble.”

Prodigy

A former child prodigy, Kobe-born Makoto Ozone had already played a piano recital at Carnegie Hall, New York when, in 1983, he was invited to join American vibes virtuoso Gary Burton’s world touring quintet, in which he and Smith formed a lasting relationship. 

Piano virtuoso Makoto Ozone

Ozone has performed three classical suites with the SNJO, Carnival of the Animals, Peter and The Wolf and Rhapsody in Blue. He also orchestrated Mozart’s Jeunehomme piano concerto for enthusiastically received concerts and a successful SNJO recording.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming back Makoto, a real master and an old friend of the SNJO,” says Smith. 

“We’ve worked with him on quite a few projects now, including a tour of Japan when we performed Peter and the Wolf with Japanese screen actor Isao Hashizume in 2000-seat venues. 

We’re delighted to be welcoming back Makoto, a real master and an old friend of the SNJO.

Tommy Smith

“We’re sure Makoto’s fantastic musicianship and pianistic skills will excite everyone who comes to hear him.”

The SNJO, with the outstanding Scottish pianist, Peter Johnstone, will also perform Duke Ellington’s Black & Tan Fantasy, Billy Strayhorn’s jazz arrangement of Morning Mood from Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite and German composer Florian Ross’s arrangement of the West Side Story Suite in the concert.

“In the second half, the RSNO will be playing the suite from Alfred Hitchcock’s cinema classic Vertigo and their own version of West Side Story, which will feature SNJO musicians, drummer Alyn Cosker, trumpeter Ryan Quigley and saxophonist Helena Kay,” says Smith. 

Making history with orchestras playing together for the first time

“The two versions of West Side Story will allow the audience to contrast the different approaches and will make the programme all the more interesting, I’m sure.”