Hush (Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin album)

Hush is a collaborative album by vocalist Bobby McFerrin and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.^[1][2] It was released on the Sony Masterworks label in 1992.^[3] The pair first met at a 1988 celebration of Leonard Bernstein.^[4]

Hush
Studio album by Bobby McFerrin and Yo-Yo Ma
Released	1992
Recorded	August 22, 1991 – August 25, 1991
Studio	Dreamland (Hurley, New York) Different Fur (San Francisco, California) Power Station (New York City, New York)
Genre	Classical, vocal jazz
Length	46:28
Label	Sony Masterworks (US) Sony Classical (international)
Producer	Bobby McFerrin, Steven Epstein
Bobby McFerrin chronology
Play (1992) Hush (1992) Bang!Zoom (1995)
Yo-Yo Ma chronology
Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante (1992) Hush (1992) Brahms: String Sextets, Opp. 18 & 36 (1992)

The album peaked at No. 93 on the Billboard 200.^[5]

Production

The album was produced by McFerrin and Steven Epstein.^[6] McFerrin wrote five of its songs; the collaborators adapted three Johann Sebastian Bach compositions.^[7][8] According to McFerrin, Ma was hesitant to improvise during the recording sessions.^[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
The Indianapolis Star	[11]
Vancouver Sun	[8]

The Indianapolis Star wrote: "Apart from a rousing indulgence in country fiddle-music licks on 'Hoedown!', McFerrin's own compositions here lean toward the artfully overdubbed New Age."^[11] The St. Petersburg Times praised "the album's best track, McFerrin's beautifully melodic 'Stars'."^[12] The Washington Post admired "the winning combination of Ma's unerring, often deeply expressive touch and McFerrin's wit, whimsy, resourcefulness and sheer musicality."^[13]

Track listing

1. "Grace" (McFerrin) – 3:54
2. "Double Mandolin Concerto in G, RV 532" Andante (Vivaldi) – 4:03
3. "The Flight of the Bumblebee" (Rimsky-Korsakov) – 1:08
4. "Stars" (McFerrin) – 4:04
5. "Hush Little Baby" (Trad.) – 2:36
6. "Vocalise," song for voice & piano, Op. 34/14 (Rachmaninov) – 6:26
7. "Musette for keyboard in D Major (AMN II/22; doubtful), BWV Anh. 126" (J. S. Bach) – 4:12
8. "Coyote" (McFerrin) – 2:52
9. "Sonata for 2 cellos, No. 10 in G Allegro: Prestissimo" (Barrière) – 2:36
10. "Ave Maria" (Gounod / J. S. Bach) – 2:37
11. "Hoedown!" (McFerrin) – 5:38
12. "Air" (Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068) (J. S. Bach) – 5:11
13. "Good-bye" (McFerrin) – 1:11

Personnel

• Yo-Yo Ma – cello
• Bobby McFerrin – vocals, arrangements (5)

Production

• Linda Goldstein – executive producer
• Steven Epstein – producer
• Bobby McFerrin – producer, liner notes
• Chris Tergesen – recording, mixing
• Ron Rigler – recording assistant
• John Yates – assistant engineer
• Aaron Krops – mix assistant
• Matthew LaMonica – mix assistant
• Bud Graham – mastering
• Julia Cohen – production coordinator
• Allen Weinberg – cover design
• Carol Friedman – cover photography
• Yo-Yo Ma – liner notes

References

1. Metcalf, Steve (8 Jan 1992). "New year offers stack of classical CDs". Hartford Courant. p. D6.
2. "Room for Cello". Windsor Star. 1 Feb 1992. p. F1.
3. Dyer, Richard (10 Jan 1992). "Ma and McFerrin take their act to the studio". Arts & Film. The Boston Globe. p. 85.
4. Littler, William (15 Feb 1992). "Duo doesn't worry, sounds happy". Toronto Star. p. J8.
5. "Bobby McFerrin". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
6. "Hush by Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin". Billboard. 104 (7): 47. Feb 15, 1992.
7. Reese, Catherine (9 Feb 1992). "Two Wonderful Collaborations". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. E9.
8. Andrews, Marke (29 Feb 1992). "Having fun with voice and cello". Vancouver Sun. p. D23.
9. Blangger, Tim (22 Feb 1992). "BOBBY MCFERRIN MORE THAN 'HAPPY". The Morning Call. p. A55.
10. AllMusic Review
11. Harvey, Jay (14 Feb 1992). "Bobby and Yo-Yo buzz right along". The Indianapolis Star. p. D5.
12. Snider, Eric (14 Feb 1992). "Sorry, Bobby, but this time we're not happy". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 20.
13. Joyce, Mike (26 Feb 1992). "Complements of Bobby McFerrin". The Washington Post. p. C7.