"Jazz" Piano Concerti?

[cuberdrift]

So just wanted to share here a couple of interesting "piano concerti" of a jazz-influenced style. If you like jazz music and if you're interested in it being used in a "classical" format, and if you haven't heard of these, they may be of interest.

The first is Yamekraw, the Negro Rhapsody of James P. Johnson. Quite a fine composition in my opinion, and if one can play it well one has learned to interpret the "jazz style" quite favourably, as far as classical interpretation goes. As a person raised in classical music, I've found it difficult to "emulate" this musical flavour (I studied a bunch of Joplin rags and a Waller piece by myself and they aren't as easy as they seem, at least for pieces of their calibre).

Originally released as a solo recording, it was eventually orchestrated by William Grant Still in the 1920s (as I've read).

The original recording, played by Johnson himself:

A recording by Marco Fumo with better, more modern sound quality:

A recording of the orchestrated version:

Second is Duke Ellington's "New World A-Comin'" which looks to a "new world" of harmony between peoples of different cultures and races. Originally recorded with Ellington's band in a 1943 Carnegie Hall Concert, it was later orchestrated by Maurice Peress. Jazz pianist Donald Shirley also played it.

The original 1943 Carnegie Hall recording, with Duke as the pianist:

Don Shirley's version, 1955:

The orchestrated version by Peress, with Duke as the pianist:

A video of Duke himself playing it as a solo in 1965:

So, that's all I know so far. If you know other "classical jazz" pieces, do post it here. Enjoy.