With the combination of vacation and performances, this has
been a busy summer for me. Last month, while visiting Chicago, I was fortunate
enough to play a few concerts with the Chicago Symphony. This was really a
dream come true for me, as I was a student of Frank Crisafulli’s at
Northwestern in the mid-1980s and worshipped the orchestra. When I think back,
the reason I became a professional trombone player was because of the CSO. When
I was in high school there was an interview with Edward Kleinhammer in one of
the ITA journals, which included that famous photograph of the CSO brass
section. I looked at those guys and thought WOW! —they even look as sturdy as
they sound. I could hear the great brass playing by just looking at the photo.
So, it was a great thrill for me to play three concerts with them.
I played a concert in Chicago’s new Millennium Park, and two
concerts at Ravinia. Which included Act 1 of Die Walküre and Mahler Symphony
No. 8. What a pleasure and honor to play with those great musicians. I also
made a recording with the Tower Brass—which included many old friends from my
years in Chicago.
In October, I will be substituting for Jim Markey on the New
York Philharmonic’s tour to Asia. There will be concerts in South Korea and
Japan. I am completely aware of how fortunate I am to be in the position I am
in. I teach at one of the top music schools and get to perform with the best
orchestras. Granted, I have worked long and hard for this but I still know how
rare these opportunities are. I will post updates on the tour as they occur.
While on the topic of the New York Philharmonic, I attended one of the Mahler 3
performances in June. I thought the orchestra sounded nothing short of
spectacular. The horns were astonishing in both their power and the delicate
playing of Phil Myers. Phil Smith, once again, showed why he is considered to
be the finest orchestral trumpet player in the world— his onstage solos and the
post horn solo were models of musicianship. The reason I made the trip was to
hear Joe Alessi. I have heard Joe on many occasions but to witness his Mahler 3
solos live was something singularly special. His breadth of sound and flawless
execution were inspiring. At the end of the concert Lorin Maazel brought both
Joe and Phil Smith to the front of the stage for a duo-solo bow. The trombone section
was fantastic, as always.
Vacationing took me to Malibu for a couple of weeks, where I
was able to hook up with LA trombonist extraordinaire Alex Iles and have a
quick visit with Ralph Sauer. I also saw the LA Phil at the revamped Hollywood
Bowl.
During that trip I was also able to visit the esteemed Music
Academy of the West and observe a master class with Mark Lawrence. Mark and I
go back a long ways to 1982—I was a student at Tanglewood and Mark was in the
Empire Brass Quintet. It is always great to see Mark.
I am writing this from Santa Fe, NM where I was able to hook
up with another longtime friend Mark Fisher. Soon I travel to the great
Northwest where my niece is getting married. I am playing the Massenet
“Meditation” and Bernstein’s “A Simple Song” for the ceremony.
Finally, I will comment on a performance of the Mahler Sixth
Symphony done by the IU Festival Orchestra in Bloomington on August 5th. The
Festival Orchestra is comprised of mostly IU students with some faculty
sprinkled in. Conducting this concert was Roberto Abbado. I had worked with Mr.
Abbado on two separate occasions in the Seattle Symphony and he was my favorite
guest conductor there. I looked forward to his visit to Bloomington very
much—perhaps too much so—as I was sure to be disappointed. I have to tell you
all that Roberto Abbado is one of, if not the finest young conductor on the
circuit. Everything he does serves the music. He is politely insistent that the
orchestra plays as he asks and he asks for nothing that is not in the score. It
is quite something to witness. I must admit that his uncle, Claudio, has long
been one of my favorite conductors so perhaps I am a bit biased when it comes
to Roberto Abbado’s conducting. I will tell you I was not disappointed but
truly re-inspired. I urge all of you to attend any concert you can in which Mr.
Abbado is conducting.
Enough for now…more to come including the most common
deficiencies I encounter in younger players plus a list of tips and topics that
we all, as brass-playing musicians should consider.