TICO delights with jazz, Americana concerts

By Eileen Wingard

Eileen Wingard
Eileen Wingard

SAN DIEGO –“All That Jazz,” was the title of Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra’s (TICO’s) concert performed Sunday afternoon, June 15, and repeated Tuesday evening, June 17 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. Although a classical concert, it was, indeed, filled with jazz.

The program was dominated by the award-winning jazz pianist, and composer, David Feurzeig. He was soloist in two Gershwin selections, the snappy Variations on I’ve Got Rhythm and the lengthy Concerto in F , which filled the second half of the concert after intermission. Both works glistened with idiomatic authenticity. Feurzeig sounded as if he were born to play jazz. Whether in the laid-back spontaneity of the languid passages, or the accented drive of the rhythmic passages, he tossed it all off with digital ease. He reminded one of Leonard Bernstein playing Gershwin. The orchestra rose to the occasion and gave the excellent soloist firm support..

The first half concluded with Feurzeig’s clever original composition on themes from Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, entitled, Stride Rite.

The themes were well-performed by TICO, especially the bassoon solo and the horn duets. The piano came in with jazzed up versions, cleverly interspersed. After the impressive rendition of the Concerto in F, Feurzeig played a short encore by William Bolcom, whose Ragomania, based on ragtime tunes, opened the program.

Since 2008, Feurzeig has served on the faculty of the University of Vermont. A member of the family of David Amos’ wife, Lee , Feurzeig’s concert attracted a large contingent of family members, many of whom came from far distances. Their support was well-deserved.

TICO’s April concert, “Americana,” featured works by four American composers, Wallington Rieger, Walter Piston, Vincent Persichetti and Aaron Copland. The concert opened with Rieger’s Dance Rhythms. TICO performed the syncopated rhythms with verve and followed conductor Amos attentively with all attacks and releases.

Walther Piston’s Incredible Flutist had the orchestra waving flags as the circus came to town. Persichetti’s A Lincoln Address for Narrator and Orchestra featured the resonant baritone speaking voice of Dave Scott, weekend weatherman for KUSI TV. The text was from Abraham Lincoln’s impressive second inaugural address. The concert closed with Copland’s Four Dances Episodes from Rodeo. The orchestra performed these familiar cowboy-inspired pieces with excitement, and managed to avoid the many pitfalls of unexpected rhythmic changes.

Conductor Amos is to be commended for programming two concerts with much less-familiar music by American composers.

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Wingard is a retired violinist with the San Diego Sympony and a freelance writer.  She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com