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Saturday, May 24 – 8:00pm Brice Winston, tenor saxaphone Edward Simon, piano
Jeff Helgesen, reporter The final evening concert featured trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard and his group. Blanchard began the first number, his composition Wandering Wonder, with an a cappella introduction (one of many he would offer during the evening), leading into an up-tempo theme punctuated by odd-meter harmonic punches. He then launched into an extended high-energy solo, followed by solos by tenor saxophonist Brice Winston (later referred to by Blanchard as his “secret weapon”) and pianist Aaron Parks. As is the case in the piece that followed, the improvisations were ended by a “send-off” in which the soloist cued the band that the reins were being handed over. Throughout the evening, Parks on piano and Lionel Loueke on guitar changed roles periodically behind the soloists, never interfering with one another.
Following another a cappella introduction, the band launched into the medium-tempo composition “Fred Brown” (again by Blanchard). A bluesy call-and-response number, the first solo was taken by Winston on tenor saxophone. Here, the piano laid-out and the guitar provided sparse shading as the tenor fed off of the bass and drums. Blanchard followed next; after the group allowed things to deconstruct, Blanchard set up the tempo again, joined by the piano. As with the previous number, this piece provided the soloists with a great deal of harmonic freedom to explore “outside” harmonic areas, and Blanchard used this freedom to full effect. Loueke followed on guitar, while the rhythm section purposefully slipped into a slower tempo; on the way back to the theme, the tempo was restored and Blanchard ended the tune on a powerful high F#.
The group next played the Evan Lens composition Nocturna. True to form, Blanchard began with a brief a cappella section before setting off a light latin feel. Unlike the previous two pieces, Nocturna is a more harmonically conventional piece, and the band treated it as such, with the piano playing a lush, understated solo. Blanchard followed, exploring the middle register for a chorus or two before again visiting the upper register. After restating the theme, the rhythm section vamped as he continued to improvise lightly. Next, the group performed a Blanchard composition influenced by the people of the country of South Africa, Azanya. This piece was introduced first by bassist Brandon Owens; he was then joined by Loueke on guitar; and finally joined by Blanchard and Winston, who played the form of the tune, based on two simple eight-bar motifs. Winston was the first to solo, and Loueke was featured extensively on vocals (with electronic effects) and guitar. Upon completing Azanya, Blanchard launched immediately into a blues in F concert, based on a simple four-bar theme. Owens on bass was featured first on this, accompanied by Kendrick Scott on drums. Blanchard followed, interacting extensively with the drums, and exploring his full range. He took his solo into daring harmonic areas while still retaining the general harmonic form of the blues. For an encore, Blanchard returned with Parks on piano and Owens on bass for a beautiful rendition of the standard I Thought About You. |
Trumpet Prelude University of Oklahoma Trumpet Ensemble A Quiet Place - Ralph Carmichael's arr. Martin Saunders - premiere performance Three Scenes - Roland Barrett*
*(written for the University of Oklahoma Trumpet Ensemble: Premiered at the National Trumpet Competition and International Trumpet Guild Conference 2003) Members:
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