As Geoffrey Simon points
out in his booklet note, the sheer difficulty
of getting thirty-one of the country’s
finest trumpet players together in one
place simultaneously makes this recording
something of a miracle for logistical
reasons alone. The fact that in two
recording sessions they managed to put
down enough material to fill two discs
(albeit only forty four minutes worth
in the case of this second volume) is
perhaps fortunate given that it is not
easy to imagine the feat being readily
performed again.
As part of Cala’s ongoing
‘London Sound’ series, one of the principal
objectives of the project was to reflect
the diversity of the trumpet as an instrument
as well as the vast performance experience
of the players, who were drawn from
the worlds of classical, jazz, film,
session and brass bands amongst others.
The jazz element is
represented by the opening two numbers,
Mambo Caliente (presumably written
by the Cuban trumpet legend Arturo Sandoval
although the booklet notes do not confirm
this) and Dos Gardenias. From
a muted, sleepy opening Mambo Caliente
springs into life with a vibrant, Latin
rhythm section and some magnificent
high trumpet work from Patrick White,
a player with an impressive pedigree
in West End shows, jazz and session
work. Dos Gardenias slows things
down to a relaxed rumba, with prominent
solo flügel horn. From here a short
hop to the world of popular music takes
us to I Heard it Through the Grapevine,
again featuring both fine solo playing
from Patrick White and some enjoyable
collective work from the ensemble in
an effective arrangement by trombonist
Roger Harvey.
Of the remaining fare
Daryl Runswick, more a name familiar
for his work with vocal ensembles, introduces
some interesting twists into his arrangement
of Amazing Grace (try the harmonies
from around 3:55) whilst Arban’s The
Carnival of Venice, for many years
a goal for every aspiring cornet player,
is here given over to the solo skills
of trumpeter John Wallace and Roger
Webster, principal cornettist with the
Black Dyke Band.
I was less taken with
the arrangement of John Williams’ Superman
although Handel’s Music for the
Royal Fireworks sounds particularly
regal and as with much baroque and early
music transcribes well for the medium.
The familiar Hoedown from Copland’s
Rodeo provides a fun and energetic
conclusion to the disc.
A recording primarily
for the specialist then but well worth
hearing for the phenomenal skills of
some of the world’s leading exponents
of the trumpet. The booklet notes give
brief, useful biographies of all of
the players although it is a shame that
room could not be found for a little
more information on the music and arrangers,
particularly in respect of the jazz
numbers.
Christopher Thomas
