Album guide
The Planets: Reimagined
- Composer
- Holst
- Released
- 2020
- Label
- OA2 Records
- Forces
- Big band
- Personnel
- Jeremy Levy Jazz Orchestra conducted by Jeremy Levy, with soloists Andy Martin trombone, Alex Budman soprano saxophone, Michael Stever trumpet and Tom Luer tenor saxophone
Jeremy Levy’s route back to Holst’s The Planets ran through film music. While working on a Star Wars video game, he revisited John Williams’s scores and the orchestral work that had helped inspire them; hearing The Planets at the Hollywood Bowl then gave him the idea for a jazz-orchestra version.
Levy keeps all seven movements in their original sequence. His large band can summon the weight Holst’s music needs, but Latin rhythms, rock and the space for individual jazz players give each planet another character. This is a full journey through the suite, not a selection of its most recognisable themes.
Hear both
The classical side contains only the source pieces used on the album, in album order. The jazz side presents the complete album whenever a dependable copy can be embedded.
The listening queues above follow the same order. The classical player omits tracks that are not based on a classical original.
Spotify’s player is here for convenience; the full track listing below remains available to everyone.
Source works
The album’s complete track listing, with each classical source identified and original compositions marked plainly.
- Mars: The Bringer of WarThe Planets, Op. 32: I. Mars, the Bringer of War
- Venus: The Bringer of PeaceThe Planets, Op. 32: II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace
- Mercury: The Winged MessengerThe Planets, Op. 32: III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger
- Jupiter: The Bringer of JollityThe Planets, Op. 32: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
- Saturn: The Bringer of Old AgeThe Planets, Op. 32: V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
- Uranus: The MagicianThe Planets, Op. 32: VI. Uranus, the Magician
- Neptune: The MysticThe Planets, Op. 32: VII. Neptune, the Mystic