Is Anything Goes: Stephane Grappelli & Yo-Yo Ma Play (Mostly) Cole Porter a good place to start with Yo-Yo Ma?

Yes, Anything Goes: Stephane Grappelli & Yo-Yo Ma Play (Mostly) Cole Porter is recommended as a starting point for new Yo-Yo Ma listeners. A lively collaboration blending classical strings with the timeless wit and charm of Cole Porter's compositions. In 1989, Yo-Yo Ma was gaining prominence as a cross-genre artist, following his celebrated album 'The Six Cello Suites' from 1986. This collaboration with jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli showcased Ma's versatility and willingness to explore beyond traditional classical boundaries, marking a significant step in his career toward fusing classical music with popular styles.

How many songs are on Anything Goes: Stephane Grappelli & Yo-Yo Ma Play (Mostly) Cole Porter?

Anything Goes: Stephane Grappelli & Yo-Yo Ma Play (Mostly) Cole Porter has 10 tracks, running approximately 54 minutes.

Anything Goes: Stephane Grappelli & Yo-Yo Ma Play (Mostly) Cole Porter

Yo-Yo Ma · 1989

54 min · 10 tracks · classical music

A lively collaboration blending classical strings with the timeless wit and charm of Cole Porter's compositions.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Anything Goes Start here — The title track captures the playful spirit of Porter’s lyrics, showcasing both artists' improvisational skills and musical chemistry.
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So in Love — This rendition emphasizes emotional depth, highlighting Ma's expressive cello playing alongside Grappelli's lyrical violin lines, creating a romantic atmosphere.
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In the Still of the Night — The arrangement features intricate interplay between cello and violin, beautifully illustrating the song's haunting melody and emotional weight.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album effectively blends classical and jazz elements, showcasing strong performances but lacks significant cultural footprint.

What we noticed

Several tracks incorporate syncopated rhythms that highlight the jazz influences in Porter's compositions.
The arrangement of 'Pas-De-Two' includes a notable call-and-response section, emphasizing the dialogue between the performers.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady melodic exploration throughout
sophisticated background for gatherings
intimate listening for quiet evenings
lush string interplay to savor

Maybe skip if you

prefer upbeat, fast-paced tracks
seek instant gratification from music

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album showcased Ma's versatility and helped gain wider recognition in cross-genre music.
Themes: Cole Porter charm· romantic improvisation
Career context: In 1989, Yo-Yo Ma was gaining prominence as a cross-genre artist, following his celebrated album 'The Six Cello Suites' from 1986. This collaboration with jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli showcased Ma's versatility and willingness to explore beyond traditional classical boundaries, marking a significant step in his career toward fusing classical music with popular styles.
Stylistic neighbors: Joshua Bell· Itzhak Perlman· Lara St. John