Hush (Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin album)

Last updated

Hush
Mcferrinn-hush.jpg
Studio album by
Released1992
RecordedAugust 22, 1991 – August 25, 1991
Studio
Genre Classical, vocal jazz
Length46:28
Label Sony Masterworks (US)
Sony Classical (international)
Producer Bobby McFerrin, Steven Epstein
Bobby McFerrin chronology
Play
(1992)
Hush
(1992)
Bang!Zoom
(1995)
Yo-Yo Ma chronology
Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante
(1992)
Hush
(1992)
Brahms: String Sextets, Opp. 18 & 36
(1992)

Hush is a collaborative album by vocalist Bobby McFerrin and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. [1] [2] It was released on the Sony Masterworks label in 1992. [3] The pair first met at a 1988 celebration of Leonard Bernstein. [4]

Contents

The album peaked at No. 93 on the Billboard 200. [5]

Production

The album was produced by McFerrin and Steven Epstein. [6] McFerrin wrote five of its songs; the collaborators adapted three Johann Sebastian Bach compositions. [7] [8] According to McFerrin, Ma was hesitant to improvise during the recording sessions. [9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
The Indianapolis Star Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Vancouver Sun Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]

The Indianapolis Star wrote: "Apart from a rousing indulgence in country fiddle-music licks on 'Hoedown!', McFerrin's own compositions here lean toward the artfully overdubbed New Age." [11] The St. Petersburg Times praised "the album's best track, McFerrin's beautifully melodic 'Stars'." [12] The Washington Post admired "the winning combination of Ma's unerring, often deeply expressive touch and McFerrin's wit, whimsy, resourcefulness and sheer musicality." [13]

Track listing

  1. "Grace" (McFerrin) – 3:54
  2. "Double Mandolin Concerto in G, RV 532" Andante (Vivaldi) – 4:03
  3. "The Flight of the Bumblebee" (Rimsky-Korsakov) – 1:08
  4. "Stars" (McFerrin) – 4:04
  5. "Hush Little Baby" (Trad.) – 2:36
  6. "Vocalise," song for voice & piano, Op. 34/14 (Rachmaninov) – 6:26
  7. "Musette for keyboard in D Major (AMN II/22; doubtful), BWV Anh. 126" (J. S. Bach) – 4:12
  8. "Coyote" (McFerrin) – 2:52
  9. "Sonata for 2 cellos, No. 10 in G Allegro: Prestissimo" (Barrière) – 2:36
  10. "Ave Maria" (Gounod / J. S. Bach) – 2:37
  11. "Hoedown!" (McFerrin) – 5:38
  12. "Air" (Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068) (J. S. Bach) – 5:11
  13. "Good-bye" (McFerrin) – 1:11

Personnel

Production

References

  1. Metcalf, Steve (January 8, 1992). "New year offers stack of classical CDs". Hartford Courant. p. D6.
  2. "Room for Cello". Windsor Star. February 1, 1992. p. F1.
  3. Dyer, Richard (January 10, 1992). "Ma and McFerrin take their act to the studio". Arts & Film. The Boston Globe. p. 85.
  4. Littler, William (February 15, 1992). "Duo doesn't worry, sounds happy". Toronto Star. p. J8.
  5. "Bobby McFerrin". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  6. "Hush by Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 7. February 15, 1992. p. 47.
  7. Reese, Catherine (February 9, 1992). "Two Wonderful Collaborations". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. E9.
  8. 1 2 Andrews, Marke (February 29, 1992). "Having fun with voice and cello". Vancouver Sun. p. D23.
  9. Blangger, Tim (February 22, 1992). "BOBBY MCFERRIN MORE THAN 'HAPPY". The Morning Call. p. A55.
  10. AllMusic Review
  11. 1 2 Harvey, Jay (February 14, 1992). "Bobby and Yo-Yo buzz right along". The Indianapolis Star. p. D5.
  12. Snider, Eric (February 14, 1992). "Sorry, Bobby, but this time we're not happy". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 20.
  13. Joyce, Mike (February 26, 1992). "Complements of Bobby McFerrin". The Washington Post. p. C7.