London Horn Sound CD
"Hey, man, you got to check it out!"
Review, Cornucopia, September 1999
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London Horn Sound CD"Hey, man, you got to check it out!"Review, Cornucopia, September 1999 |
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I first became aware of the London Horn Sound when a jazz saxophone player came up to me and said, "Oh, man, have you heard the horn CD those guys in London put out?" "No," was my answer, hoping not to look too ignorant. "Hey, man, you got to check it out, it's awesome!" Two hours later, driving home with the CD, I tried not to crash as I read the liner notes in disbelief.
For those of you that have not had the experience of hearing this horn ensemble CD, you are in for an extremely fun 70 plus minutes. This is truly eye-popping horn playing and arranging. All horn players should hear it, and, as proved by my saxophone- playing friend, it will also impress any musician with a pulse.
The CD covers an amazing spectrum of styles demonstrating state-of-the-art performing and writing for horn. The 13 ensembles have 5-16 horns, with Wagner tubas, percussion, timpani, piano, string bass, and rhythm.
The opening track, Titanic Fantasy, is based on the theme from the film by James Horner. Hugh Seenan plays the theme unaccompanied and then is joined by 11 more horns, timpani, and percussion. You notice the remarkable variations in color and texture achieved by the use of mutes, stopped horn, and just a brilliant understanding of the horn by arranger/hornist Richard Bissil.
La Danza by Rossini is one of my favorite tracks. It could bog down quite easily, but due to great low horn articulation, it sounds effortless, which I'm sure it was anything but. It also displays tight ensemble playing. This aspect of performing is usually evident when it's missing. Don't bother looking for any sloppy ensemble playing anywhere on this release -- it doesn't happen!
Traditional horn sounds are found in the beautiful Evening Prayer arrangement, lulling the listener into a horn lover's stupor only to be yanked into the unknown by Tico-Tico, which I'm sure has a warning label on the parts insisting that the reader "not try this at home, these are trained professionals."
Mozart gets his due in a terrific look at the Concerto No. 4 in E-Flat. Just when you thought you couldn't bear one more version, this one makes you realize just how well written the work is. The arrangement is charming and beautifully played by 8 horns.
Proving the we don't need most of those other people in the orchestra, Roman Carnival Overture and Russlan and Ludmilla show imaginative arranging while featuring Frank Lloyd and Richard Watkins. Wagner's Prelude to Tristan and Isolde for 12 horns, 4 Wagner tubas, and timpani leaves little to be desired by any serious horn jock.
Stardust, Here's That Rainy Day, Caravan and just when you thought they had covered it all, Freddie Mercury's Bohemian Rhapsody, round out the London Horn Sound CD. Jazz on the horn requires a whole new set of skills, including making it interesting to the jazz community and not sounding like a trombone with a thyroid problem. Like everything else on this CD, it's done with great skill and finesse.
It should also be noted that the digital recording is really well done, letting all players show their skills during the performances. As most musicians know, the stick makes no noise, but it is understood by the quality of ensemble that conductor Geoffrey Simon did a terrific job of keeping these great musicians balanced and together. Piano, bass, rhythm, and percussion never overpower and add to the success of this recording. Contrary to most liner notes on CDs, this one leaves no doubt as to who should get the credit for each track's performance and arranging.
In short, if you're a horn player, you should own this CD. "Hey, man, check it out!" is the understatement of the year. Thank you to our friends "across the pond" for making such a fine recording.
You can find this CD at Osmun Music. In spite of the warning about not trying this at home, many of the arrangements have been published. The reviewer is a free-lancer.