Recording News
Marsalis’s Blues Symphony marks a milestone in DSO sound
In March 2025, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will proudly present a landmark in our storied recording history: Wynton Marsalis’s Blues Symphony conducted by Music Director Jader Bignamini. Recorded in Orchestra Hall in December 2023, the recording will be released on the Pentatone label and marks Bignamini’s first commercial recording with the orchestra. Visit Pentatone to purchase, stream, and download.
“ This dynamic and challenging work captures the breadth of American music and can be appreciated from both the orchestral and jazz worlds. I believe it brings together the two souls of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and speaks to the musical legacy of the city of Detroit and our home, Orchestra Hall. ”
-Jader Bignamini, DSO Music Director
Marsalis’s Blues Symphony is a triumphant ode to the power of the blues and the scope of America’s musical heritage. Spanning seven movements, the work expands the raw emotive power of the blues to a symphonic scope, exploring influences from ragtime to habanera.
The DSO’s interpretation highlights the ensemble’s dynamic artistry, blending virtuosic solo parts with rich ensemble textures. Recorded in the pristine acoustics of Orchestra Hall, the album offers listeners the opportunity to savor each nuanced sound on a sonic journey through America’s revolutionary era, the early beginnings of jazz in New Orleans, and a big city soundscape that serves as a nod to the Great Migration.
The DSO’s dedication to recording American music is deeply rooted in our history. From the Black Composers Series LPs with Paul Freeman in the 1970s, to ‘90s recordings with Neeme Järvi of music by Charles Ives, William Grant Still, Duke Ellington, and others, to more recent releases of works by Aaron Copland and John Williams with Leonard Slatkin, the orchestra has championed works that reflect the magnitude of America’s cultural identity.
Marsalis’s connection to the DSO is equally significant. As the organization’s former Fred A. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair, he helped deepen its rich and vibrant jazz history. The DSO remains one of few American orchestras to present regular jazz programming on its main stage.
Orchestra Hall itself is a symbol of Detroit’s rich musical past. From 1941 to 1951, the venue transformed into the Paradise Theatre, hosting jazz legends like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, and many more. The theatre got its name from Paradise Valley, the area just across Woodward Avenue that was home to a large percentage of Detroit’s African American community and the city’s principal Black entertainment district. With the Blues Symphony recording, the DSO pays homage to this era and continues Detroit’s legacy as a hub for blues, jazz, and African American music.
For Bignamini, this project is especially meaningful. “Recording Blues Symphony was an unforgettable dream come true,” he reflects. “This dynamic and challenging work captures the breadth of American music and can be appreciated from both the orchestral and jazz worlds. I believe it brings together the two souls of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and speaks to the musical legacy of the city of Detroit and our home, Orchestra Hall.”
The DSO’s nearly century-long recording history includes groundbreaking projects that have elevated the orchestra’s international reputation. From becoming the first orchestra in the world to present a radio broadcast in 1922, to dozens of acclaimed albums, more than 13 years of Live from Orchestra Hall webcasts, and a robust digital performance archive, the DSO consistently embraces innovative ways to share music with the world.
With this release, the DSO also launches its Gold Record Collective, which supports a robust and enduring recording future for the orchestra. Establishment of the collective was commemorated in February with a Third Man Records vinyl record. The limited edition pressing in black, blue, and gold, with original jacket art by Judy Bowman, is available to collective members.
As we look to the future, the recording of Blues Symphony underscores the enduring power of collaboration and the transformative role of music in telling America’s story. March’s release is more than an album—it is a testament to, and celebration of, a DSO sound rooted firmly in tradition, while extending ever forward to new heights of unparalleled artistry.
