A journey through the many faces of the trombone

The London Symphony Orchestra is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading orchestras.

Rafael Méndez was born on March 26, 1906 in Jiquilpan, Mexico. His musical training began when he was five, when his father needed a trumpet player for the orchestra comprised of family members. The Méndez orchestra was a popular performing group and appeared regularly at festivals and community gatherings. Rafael loved the trumpet and actually practiced more that his father allowed.

In the history of Jazz music, there is only one bandleader that has the distinction of having his orchestra still performing sold out concerts all over the world, with members personally chosen by him, for nearly 30 years after his passing. Pianist and bandleader William James “Count” Basie was and still is an American institution that personifies the grandeur and excellence of Jazz. The Count Basie Orchestra has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for Kings, Queens, and other world Royalty, appeared in several movies, television shows, at every major jazz festival and concert hall in the world. Some of the greatest soloists, composers, arrangers, and vocalists in jazz history such as Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Frank Foster, Thad Jones, Sonny Payne, Freddie Green, Snooky Young, Frank Wess, and Joe Williams, became international stars once they began working with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. This great 18 member orchestra, today directed by Scotty Barnhart, is still continuing the excellent history started by Basie of stomping and shouting the blues, as well as refining those musical particulars that allow for the deepest and most moving of swing.

”The music of George Enescu continues to be a source of discovery for me. As the Fates would have it, though, his Chamber Symphony for 12 Instruments was already familiar to me from a recent Ondine recording by Hannu Lintu conducting the Tampere Philharmonic, which I reviewed only as recently as 36:2. In that review, I stated that the work was new to me and that I had no other versions against which to compare it. Well, that situation didn’t last long, for here is another performance of the piece, which, on my first hearing of it under Lintu, didn’t make a very favorable impression.

A snappy offering from one of the most important big bands in Spain! Very accessible listen containing songs ranging from the most original swing of the Count Basie Big Band, the delicious sound of Kenny Wheeler, and the vocal standards of Ira & George Gershwin to pieces composed by members of the group. Includes five tracks featuring the lush vocals of Laura Simó, of the most important female voices in Spain. Born in Barcelona, her professional career began when she shared the stage with Ray Charles (Girona 1986) and represented Spain in the Performing Arts Festival (MARS, Paris 1988). Gran Canaria Big Band has collaborated and played with musicians such as Ron Carter, Carmen Lundy, Rosa Pasos, Robben Ford, Perico Sambeat, Carme Canela, Cornelius Lund, and Eivin Sannes.

Many music lovers are not aware that the father of composer Richard Strauss was himself a composer, although better known as one of the great French horn players. Franz Strauss (1822-1905) was principal horn of the Munich Court Opera Orchestra for over 40 years and played in the world premieres of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, Die Meistersinger and Parsifal. This definitive recording of Richard Strauss’s two famous horn concertos is greatly enhanced by the inclusion of one of his father’s works. Steven Gross is currently principal horn of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and professor of horn at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Principal horn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since February 1966, Dale Clevenger also pursues an active international conducting career. The Philharmonia Orchestra of Bratislava comprises the leading performers of the capital city of the Slovak Republic.

Revealing the Jazz Soul of Elton John

Besides being the father of composer Richard Strauss and one of the preeminent hornists of the 19th century, Franz Strauss (1822-1905) was also a composer of importance for the horn. Complementary works by Robert Schumann and Richard Strauss round out the album.

A dynamic presentation of opera arias and operettas with a wide range of musical tonalities ranging from the late 1600s through the mid 1900s from one of the best brass quintets around.

Opera like you’ve never heard…interpreted through Brass, from some of the best players around!!!

A dynamic presentation of opera arias and operettas with a wide range of musical tonalities ranging from the late 1600s through the mid 1900s from one of the best brass quintets around.