THE ENTERTAINERS- Andrej Kurti (vn); Viktor Uzur (vc)- BLUE GRIFFIN BGR 109 (53:50)

JOPLIN The Entertainer. KREISLER Schon Rosmarin. TRAD Seva. Cocek. MERCURY Bohemian Rhapsody. MONTI Czardas. Louiguy/Larue Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White. Andersonlsquire/bruford Heart of the Sunrise. RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Bumble Bee. waters In the Flesh. Another Brick in the Wall. Goodbye Blue Sky. Gilmour/waters Run Like Hell. BONHAM/PAGE/PLANT Kashmir

I work with college students, and I am a reliable judge of when someone is honest with me, and of when someone is giving me a load of B.S. There are two reasons for classical musicians to record an album like this one, heavily laden as it is with arrangements of rock standards. The first one is-not to put too fine a point on it-to sell out. ("Suckers! Ifthey go for this, they'll swallow anything.") The second and much rarer reason is as sincere as the first reason is dishonest: perhaps the musicians actually love this music, and want to interpret it in their own way as an expression of that love. I have no doubt that Andrej Kurti and Viktor Uzur recorded this CD for the second reason. Arranging the music of Pink Floyd, Queen, Led Zeppelin, and others for violin and cello (that's all!) sounds like someone's idea of a sophomoric jokefunny once or twice, but not worth repetition. By treating the music seriously, and as no less worthy of respect than classical music, Kurti and Uzur leave us with smiles that, while perhaps less broad, are undoubtedly longer lasting.

These musicians are Yugoslavians who met at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and subsequently came to the United States to earn their doctorates in music performance. Selfishly, I hope they do not return to Europe too quickly. It would be a shame to lose them so soon. All of the arrangements are by cellist Uzur. Rather than slavishly imitating the originals, Uzur has remained faithful to them while not neglecting his imagination and creativity. Generally speaking, the violin takes the place of the electric guitar and the vocals, while the cellist serves as the electric bass and drum set. I feared that the several selections from Pink Floyd's self-pitying masterpiece The Wall, for example, would be deadly dull sans vocals, but Kurti and Uzur have proven me wrong. Without changing very much, they have changed everything. The spirit of rock music is the spirit of rebellion and innovation, and no one can rightfully say that these two musicians have failed to do that on this CD. At the same time, they have not neglected their heritage, as is demonstrated in freewheeling performances of traditional Slavic dances.

It used to be said that albums like this one were a great way for classical music-loving parents to get revenge on their head-banging sons. That kind of thinking no longer applies. I think the average teenager or young adult will aver that this stuff is "pretty cool," whether or not they recognize it. (Sadly, many college students now look at Pink Floyd and the like as dinosaur music, hardly more relevant than Beethoven.) I think their parents will agree. Here's serious musicianship that does not take itselftoo seriously-an elusive combination, but skillfully realized by Kurti and Uzur. No B.S. here. Bravo, and bravo again! (If you have trouble finding this CD, the label's URL is www.bluegriffin.com) Raymond Tuttle

The Entertainers

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