CD: Trilogy
Philip SmithTRCD: 1105
Trilogy
Trumpet Soloist: Philip Smith
Triumphonic Recordings
World of Brass: TRCD: 1105
This excellent package of three compacts discs has been drawn across 38 years in the illustrious career of Philip Smith. Smith has stood atop the trumpet world for decades, most notably as principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic, and is now distinguished Professor of Trumpet and Brass Performance at the University of Georgia.
Two of the discs are remastered classics, including the pace-setting Trumpet and Piano with Joseph Turrin (1974) and the revelatory Escapade (1988) with brass band accompaniments, led by Bramwell Tovey. In the third disc (2012), we hear Smith with a Nashville studio orchestra in newly-released material.
The overall concept was a joint effort of Ronald Waiksnoris, the late Mark Freeh, guiding force and recording engineer in the first two programmes, and Professor Smith.
The playing by Smith and Turrin throughout disc one is excellent; the remastered sound equally admirable. Four new works appeared on the disc. Turrin’s Caprice and Elegy, so engagingly fresh then, are now standard recital fayre.
So, too, are Lane’s lovely Song for Cornet and Bruce Broughton’s Countryside
(aka Folksong). Philip also included two standard SA solos, Langworthy’s Heavenly Gales
and Eric Ball’s evergreen The Challenge.
The programme concludes with a mature, dramatic version of Enesco’s Legende.
Smith is at the top of his game in the second disc. The delightfully named Rigid Containers Brass Band (GUS) provides brilliant accompaniments and the repertoire blends traditional solos - Facilita, Tucker and Cleopatra - with new arrangements by Mark Freeh. Honegger’s Intrada, for example, grabs you full-throttle, Smith driving that great work to a majestic, thrilling close. We are in the presence of a master player in complete control of all aspects of his art. Yet it is Smith’s beautiful lyricism that captures the day and throughout the programme, this dominates; he never allows mere technique and virtuosity to take over. Bulla’s wonderful setting of His Eye is On the Sparrow becomes a clinic in this regard. The title tune, Escapade, stands as another excellent work by Turrin, now played the World over.
The third disc of ‘unreleased tracks’ highlights Smith’s playing towards the close of his orchestral career. You hear him both as soloist and as lead trumpet in the studio orchestra that provides the solid backing. Smith has a gift for bringing hymns to life due to his careful regard for their associated texts. Not surprisingly, his full, rich sound, in whatever register, dominates in an artistic way both the solos and the dynamic full tutti of the orchestra.
The production includes a significant booklet containing input from Ron Waiksnoris, Mark Freeh, Bramwell Tovey and Philip Smith himself.
Three distinct sound combinations, superb playing and excellent repertoire make Trilogy
a prized collector’s item. First rate throughout!
I highly recommend this outstanding release.
RONALD W. HOLZ
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