Can an Opera become a Bopera? For saxophonist & clarinetist John Ellis the self-imposed challenge was to take Georges Bizet's Carmen and twist and turn it into something new. With the talents of pianist Gary Versace, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Jason Marsalis along for the dance, Carmen's fiery Gypsy appetite shows up in the creation, with the listener Don Jose, following along wantingly to see what happens next.
From Monday, January 29 through Friday, February 2, one cut from the Bizet: Carmen in Jazz album will be featured each morning on the New Day, New Play spotlight on my Daybreak show.
Preview “Habanera” from Bizet: Carmen in Jazz, above.
