The London Symphony Orchestra has long sought out the talents of trumpet players instilled with the formative musical DNA of the British brass band movement.
The lineage is well known - the latest, James Fountain indisputably blessed with the rarest genetic abilities of his illustrious predecessors; intertwined helixes of supreme confidence, stylistic insight, intuitive virtuosity and tonal malleability; from the brightest sheen of brilliance to the softest pastel shaded tenderness.
Outstanding
All and more are displayed on this outstanding release, (performances on trumpet, cornet, piccolo trumpet and flugel) which is further enhanced by the impressively responsive accompaniment, super arrangements and cameo solo contributions.
Fountain is a performer who can effortlessly blazon with the hutzpah showmanship of Herbert Clarke yet capture the fragile beauty of Franz Schubert in an instant.
Fountain is a performer who can effortlessly blazon with the hutzpah showmanship of Herbert Clarke yet capture the fragile beauty of Franz Schubert in an instant.
He infuses the air with the sultry sensualities of Piazzolla as if he has just popped into a back street Buenos Aires bar for an illicit tango or two, before heading to a local cabaret lounge for a bit of insouciant Legrand to finish off the night.
Liquid melancholia
Melodic lyricism is innate to his playing; Debussy and Gershwin poured from his bell with liquid melancholia – as is the ability to instil chameleon-like sensitivities to colour and texture on the Hollings ’Threnody’ that has a haunting chillness to its atmospheric writing.
All this and the command of the aesthetic Baroque purity that brings life to the form and function of the Vivaldi infused Bach is something to behold.
Toby Street’s ‘Kwai’ offers yet another detour of mastery – a tempered infusion of meandering cool jazz inflections, whilst Tom Davoren’s ‘Trials for Olwyn’ is delivered as an evocative piece of musical storytelling; a passionate beating heart of Welsh mysticism.
Charlier’s ‘Solo de Concours’ is showcased in a brilliant mix of pathos and exuberance, whilst his accompaniment to the delightful voice of Lucy Knight on ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’ is a perfect foil of filigree obligato consideration.
All this and the command of the aesthetic Baroque purity that brings life to the form and function of the Vivaldi infused Bach 'Concerto' is something to behold.
You are left breathless in admiration.
Iwan Fox
To purchase:
http://www.jamesfountaintrumpet.com
http://www.worldofbrass.com
http://www.Wobplay.com
Play list:
1. The Southern Cross (Herbert Clarke arr. Fred Muscroft)
2-4. Concerto in D Major for Trumpet & Piano (Vivaldi/Bach arr. Huw Morgan)
5. How do you keep the music playing? (Legrand arr. Peter Lawrence)
6. Oblivion (Piazzolla arr. Julian Milone)
7. Du Bist Die Ruh (Schubert arr. Josh Certina)
8. Solo de Concours (Charlier)
9. Threnody (Ben Hollings)
10. Trials for Olwyn (Tom Davoren)
11. Let the Bright Seraphim (Handel)
12. Kwai (Toby Street)
13. Someone to watch over me (Gershwin arr. Joseph Turrin)
14. Libertango (Piazzolla arr. Julian Milone)
15. The Girl with the Flaxen Hair (Debussy arr. Brandon Ridenour)
