Hush is the result of a deep friendship between Bobby and renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, which developed from a meeting between the two at the late Leonard Bernstein’s 70th birthday in the summer of 1988 at Tanglewood. The intriguing collaboration — solely involving the two leading artists — features 13 tracks, including five McFerrin original compositions alongside such classical pieces as Rachmaninoff’s ‘Vocalise’, J.S. Bach’s ‘Air’ from Orchestral Suite No. 3, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Flight of the Bumblebee.’
“‘Hush’ is a celebration of life, from youth to old age”, says Ma. “While in so many ways it speaks to children, it is equally true that the album’s central goal — to use Bobby’s phrase — is to ‘release the child in the adult.'”
Adds Bobby, “We simply had a ball because Yo-Yo brings such a wonderful childlike attitude to new adventures. Working with him was absolutely fabulous, among the most enjoyable four days I’ve ever had musically. And it wasn’t just the combination of cello and voice, but voice and Yo-Yo Ma which made it happen.”
- Grace
- Andante from Concerto in D minor for two Mandolins (Vivaldi)
- Flight of the Bumblebee (Rimsky-Korsakov)
- Stars
- Hush Little Baby
- Vocalise (Rachmaninoff)
- Musette (J.S. Bach)
- Coyote
- Allegro Prestissimo from Sonata for 2 Cellos (Barriere)
- Ave Maria (Gounod/Bach)
- Howdown!
- Air from J.S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 (J.S. Bach)
- Goodbye
Sony Classical, 1992