Kicking off a programme inspired by the United States, Edinburgh International Festival’s opening concert All Rise was quite the star-spangled springboard. This epic jazz symphony in 12 movements by American composer, director and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis combined the massed forces of the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra (of which Marsalis is the outgoing director after nearly four decades, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers: the sound from the stage was rousing. Built on the blues, All Rise features myriad musical depictions of American life, from powerful gospel singing to keening laments, African chants, Latin rhythms and classic New Orleans jazz.

Under the deft and energetic baton of James Gaffigan, punchy rhythms abounded in the opening movement titled ‘Jubal Step’, while the chorus’ haunting wails in ‘Save Us’ were particularly poignant. The infectious Latin grooves in the ninth ‘El “Gran” Baile De La Reina’ (Queen’s Grand Ball) were tightly executed and the buoyant energy of the finale, ‘I Am (Don’t You Run From Me)’ inspired the audience to, well, all rise for a standing ovation, with Marsalis himself coming out from the trumpet section to take a bow. 

Reviewed at Usher Hall; picture: Andrew Perry.

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