Catalog

With this recording, the Carolina Trombone Project — an ensemble of professional trombonists from North and South Carolina — adds to the growing repertoire for trombone ensemble with six new works commissioned through a nationwide consortium. Ranging from five to eight players, the programmatic works are as versatile as they are accessible. Composers include Andrew Markel, Christopher Even Hass, Gina Gillie, Christopher Sharpe, Gary Kulesha, and David F. Wilborn. Performers include Jeremy Marks, Scott P. Hartman, Zsolt Szabo, Tom Burge, Eric Henson, Mark Whitfield, Joseph Brown, and Justin Isenhour.

Vignettes is a collection of works for solo trumpet, trumpet and piano, trumpet, trombone and piano, brass trio, brass quartet, brass quintet, and trumpet ensemble. Many of the pieces on this recording are world premieres and several were commissioned specifically for this cd. As trumpet player Eric Siereveld says, "The direct intention of this music is to draw the listener into short, but specific musical sketches that bring forth in the imagination, places or people previously lost to memory." A native of Cincinnati, Eric Siereveld attended Morehead State University Indiana University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has worked as a freelance musician in New York; directed the Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is now on the faculty of the University of Louisiana Monroe. He performs with several brass ensembles and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra.

This is a recording of reimagined masterworks arranged for brass quintet by Chris Van Hof. The idea of dance is a significant influence throughout, highlighting Baroque forms such as rigaudon and minuet, popular Central and South American dance genres, and selections from ballet scenes. The Emerald Brass (Brett Long and Max Matzen, trumpets; Leslie Hart, horn; Chris Van Hof, trombone; T.J. Ricer, tuba) was established at the Eastman School of Music where all the members were graduate student colleagues. The Emerald Brass Quintet has gained recognition as a dynamic and virtuosic collection of performers and educators and has performed and presented masterclasses throughout the U.S. Members of the quintet serve on the faculties of Utah State University, Ball State University, East Tennessee State University, University of Hawaii, and Santa Clara University.

JoDee Davis wanted to expand the repertoire for the trombone with this recording and commissioned four composers for new works (Victoria Bond, Jennifer Higdon, Paul Rudy, and Kevin Cerovich). Then she rounded out the recording with trios for three trombones. Davis is on the faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory and performs with the Trilogy Brass Trio and the Kansas City Symphony. She was principal trombone of the Spokane Symphony and second trombone of the Santa Fe Opera. She has presented recitals and master classes through the United States and at the Musik Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen. She is a graduate of Indiana University and the University of Northern Iowa. This is her second recording for Albany Records. Her collaborators on this recording include pianist Dan Velicer and trombonists Davin Bennett and Daniel Marion.

Gregory Fritze is a prize-winning composer, Fulbright Scholar and an active performer, conductor and educator and is chair of the composition department at Berklee College of Music. His passion for the tuba has inspired numerous compositions and this recording features his music for that instrument performed by Gary Bird, the retired professor emeritus of music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and friends. The works range from tuba duets to a concertino for tuba and orchestra.

The Chicago Trombone Consort was formed in 2008 as a creative outlet for some of the top professional trombonists in Chicago. As a diverse collection of musicians in a city with a rich and storied brass tradition, their mission is to explore new avenues of trombone music in a variety of ensemble situations. This debut recording of the CTC presents a varied repertoire including well-known works for brass, several new critical editions, an outstanding fantasy suite from Strauss’ Alpine Symphony and an exciting new work by American composer Rob Deemer. Lovers of brass music are sure to enjoy the Chicago sound!