|
Charlotte Peforming Arts Center
Charlotte, MI
In what many audience members are calling one of the finest ensemble performances they have ever attended, the Spectrum Brass Quintet definitely presented a truly memorable performance.
Our high school symphony band students thoroughly enjoyed working with the Spectrum Brass musicians in the joint presentation of the world premiere of movements two and three ofDodecafecta. Even months after the concert, the performance is still the talk of the town.
Jacob Cameron and the rest of the Spectrum Brass musicians were extremely easy to work with and very accommodating to our needs. They are truly a presenter’s dream group.
Gavin J. Smith, Director
Charlotte Performing Arts Center
ITG Journal, January 2011
The Spectrum Brass Quintet—Rhapsody: The Music of George Gershwin
Brian Buerkle and Scott Thornburg, trumpets; Eric Reed, horn; John Rutherford, trombone; Jacob Cameron, tuba; Alex Trajano, drums; Aviram Reichert, piano soloist; Rob Conway, piano; Elizabeth Stoner, soprano
BRASSJARMUSIC 002 (CD); Brassjar Music, 3925 Bishop Street, Detroit, MI 48224
http://www.brassjarmusic.com
http://www.spectrumbrassquintet.com
Gershwin (Stephenson): Gershwin Overture; Gershwin (Stephenson): Strike Up the Band; Gershwin (Stephenson): Porgy and Bess Suite; Gershwin (Stephenson):Walking the Dog; Gershwin (Buerkle): Rhapsody in Blue; Gershwin (Stephenson): Fascinating Rhythm; Gershwin (Stephenson): American Song Suite; Gershwin (Stephenson): I Got Rhythm.
Committed to creative collaboration, the Spectrum Brass has partnered with an impressive array of guest artists, including composer James Stephenson, to create a wonderful and fresh recording of the music of George Gershwin. From the exciting start of Gershwin Overture: Strike Up the Band, through the Porgy and Bess Suite, to the culminating I Got Rhythm, the brass playing and musicianship on this recording is first rate. Trumpeters Scott Thornburg and Brian Buerkle successfully soar on the challenging trumpet parts. They have an uncanny ability to match style and blend their sound. Their contribution is not alone, as an exciting sound and musicianship emanates from the entire ensemble. The playing of Eric Reed, John Rutherford, and Jacob Cameron is equally up to the task and helps solidify an already impressive group effort. Additionally, Elizabeth Stoner’s vocal performance on this recording is a good fit for Gershwin’s classic songs. It is worth noting the excellent piano performance of Aviram Reichert on Rhapsody in Blue. Brian Buerkle’s arrangement of this iconic concerto for piano, brass quintet, and percussion is very successful and enjoyable. James Stephenson, arranger of the rest of the music on this recording, has added an impressive collection of brass quintet arrangements to his already well-stocked catalogue of music for brass, something that brass players will enjoy for some time to come. It should be noted that the collaboration between The Spectrum Brass and James Stephenson has evolved into a full length concerto for brass quintet that was premiered at the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic in December 2010. The Spectrum Brass’s debut recording is certainly worth a listen and is suitable for all audiences.
Jason Bergman, visiting instructor of trumpet
The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Bozeman Symphony Orchestra
Bozeman, Montana
To Whom It May Concern,
It is with great pleasure that I write this letter on behalf of the Spectrum Brass Quintet. This is an exciting group of gifted musicians who bring a fresh approach to their work. Having performed with them I can see a bright future for them indeed.
I was introduced to Spectrum Brass when I engaged composer/arranger James Stephenson to create a new pops show for the Bozeman Symphony. I asked for a show featuring brass quintet, that would focus on Latin music, and I asked for his recommendations on a quintet. James wrote a magnificent show titled Salsa Metales, and suggested Spectrum Brass. Although I was hesitant at first to hire a group that was relatively new to the business, I trusted my friend James Stephenson and went ahead with the project. I’m glad I did because this quintet proved to be wonderful and the performance was a great success.
Working with Spectrum Brass was easy thanks to the wonderful leadership of Jacob Cameron. Jacob was always accessible to me through the process and was very easy to work with. He was amenable to suggestion and made sure that the quintet was not only wonderful musically, but accommodating to the needs of the Bozeman Symphony.
I can recommend Spectrum brass without hesitation!
Sincerely,
Matthew Savery
Music Director and Conductor
Bozeman Symphony Orchestra
http://www.bozemansymphony.org/
Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center
Presented by: Bay View Music Festival
Bay View, Michigan
"Our experience with Spectrum was first-rate. These are some of the most beautifully-set, clever arrangements of perhaps America's finest contribution to music history, all played with sensitivity, personality, and integrity that it would be hard to match. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for a sure fire, audience-pleasing concert experience."
- Chris Ludwa
Artistic Director- Bay View Music Festival
www.bayviewfestival.org
Conductor- Bloomington POPS Orchestra
www.bloomingtonpops.org
Artistic Director- Encore Vocal Arts
www.encorevocalarts.org
Bay City State Theatre
Bay City, Michigan
"From start to finish of the show, you were wondering how they make such great music with so few instruments"
"This group is an amazing group of musicians and singers, that appeals to any audience"
- Mike Bacigalupo
Executive Director
State Theatre, Bay City
Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts
Fremont, Michigan
Dear Jacob, Scott, Brian, Eric and John of the Spectrum Brass Quintet…along with special guests Alex, Tony and Elizabeth…
It is with profound professional pride and pleasure that we thank you for your stellar performance this past Friday here at the Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts. We strive to bring artists of the highest quality to our community and Spectrum fit right in! You are as exceptionally talented, individually, as you are as an ensemble. Your performance and style was impeccably ‘first class’ and your mastery of your art was flawless!
We appreciate the time you spent after your performance with our guests. Your warmth and genuine kindness did not go unnoticed.
We are immensely grateful to you for your support of the work we do here at Dogwood Center to keep the arts growing strong in our Community. We now consider you part of the Dogwood Center family of entertainers and we wish you great success.
Positively,
Diane Yonker
Program Manager
Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts
http://www.dogwoodcenter.com/
American Record Guide MAR/APR 2010
Rhapsody
GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue; Porgy & Bess Suite; American Song Suite; Strike Up the Band; Walking the Dog; Fascinating Rhythm; I Got Rhythm
Spectrum Brass Quintet
Brassjar 2--69 minutes
The only way this kind of brass quintet program sounds good is if the players have terrific skills and play with abandon--not to mention with all the basics of good tone, blend, and intonation. And of course, it helps if the arrangements are imaginative. Each of these elements is most definitely true of this recording. Spectrum Brass Quintet makes spectacular things happen, individually and collectively.
The big piece is Rhapsody in Blue, arranged by ARG's own Brian Buerkle, with Israeli piano soloist Aviram Reichert (now a piano professor in Seoul, Korea). His reading is excellent, and the work sounds very good, even with none of the string and woodwind timbres Gershwin had in mind. Spectrum gives a wonderful account of a suite from Porgy and Bess, and a close-miked Elizabeth Stoner is the fine soprano whose tone ranges from breathy to brassy in American Song Suite (`But Not For Me', `Embraceable You', `How Long Has This Been Going On?', `The Man I Love', and `'S Wonderful').
Most of the arrangements are by composer James Stephenson, whose trumpet works I have praised before (SEP/OCT 2009: 247, JAN/FEB 2008: 203, MAR/APR 2005: 210). There is nothing average about them; they capture the original Gershwin while adding his own personality, and they challenge the players.
I am rarely excited about this kind of brass quintet program, but this is one of the best. The group consists of trumpeters Brian Buerkle and Scott Thornburg (his solo album is one of my favorites, JUL/AUG 2003: 202), horn player Eric Reed, trombonist John Rutherford, and tuba player Jacob Cameron. They are assisted ably by drummer Alex Trajano.
- Barry Kilpatrick
American Record Guide
|
