Review

Wolf Escher
Blues, Bop & Ballads:
trumpet or trombone and piano

Mainz, , Germany
Publisher: Schott
Date of Publication: 1992

Piano score and solo parts

Primary Genre: Jazz Material - ensemble
Secondary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 2 brass

One doesn't quite know what to make of these well-intentioned vignettes. With titles like Coup de Bambou (a samba), Pineapple Pop, Blue Bach, which sounds like a Bach invention superimposed over 12-bar blues changes, and Butterfly in the Sky, a suite from the 19 published pieces could easily be extracted to lighten an otherwise-heavy classical recital. Bass clef is used throughout. Generally conservative ranges characterize the solo part, though Champagne in the Rain has several c2's. The piano accompaniments require no special skills, except an ability to swing the written figures. A jazz pianist, on the other hand, might use the chord symbols as a basis for extemporizing, in which case the pieces could be opened up for improvisation in the conventional jazz manner. The composer's intentions are not clear, and there is no expository statement to explain. Some of the pieces hold up better than others. Butterfly, for example, might work better on trumpet because the low register on trombone might cause the butterfly to sound earthbound; maybe the piece is mis-named. So, pick and choose at your discretion, but don't forget to have some fun while rewarding your audience for sitting through too many sonatas and concertos.

-Gerry Sloan
University of Arkansas