Perspectives
My first solo album is called Perspectives and was recorded and released in 2018
And yes, I AM standing barefoot in a creek with my trombone in the water. Why, you ask? Because I wanted the album to reflect my Tennessee roots and because it looked really cool. I thought the reflection of the water and the sunlight peeking through the trees were a nice perspective. Boom. Album title reference.
The Music
There are 5 newly-commissioned works on the album. Learn more about them below:
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A Liminal Space was completed by composer David Faleris in early 2018. An active and versatile musician, David Faleris brings an inimitable breadth of experience and aptitude to every project — whether it’s composing/arranging, audio design/production, teaching/performing, or even developing information solutions for arts organizations. David’s music is bold and fresh while remaining wholly accessible to performers and audience members alike; his compositional voice is distinct yet familiar.
A Liminal Space: neither here nor there, after "what was" but before passing that threshold of "what's next". A liminal space can be a time and place of paralyzing unknowns, and there is no way to easily navigate such indeterminate change. What lies past the threshold is not simply a concealed or obscured future for one's self, but rather a new version of one's self about to be defined. Although this state of unpredictable transformation can be threateningly mysterious, there is a beauty and power to the endless possibilities of "what will be".
Learn more about the composer and purchase sheet music at davidfaleris.com
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Redlands Fantasia was written for Jeremy by Eric Ewazen, and the premiere performance was given in Memorial Chapel at the University of Redlands in Redlands, CA as part of the 2017 International Trombone Festival. Ewazen describes the piece as “ a two-movement work depicting the diversity and grandeur of the southwest California setting of Redlands -- with distant towering peaks, broad vistas, palm trees and desert.”
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In the spring of 2017, I was invited to Vanderbilt University for a premiere of my recently composed “CrossFit” – for trombone quartet and percussion quartet. It was there that I met the trombone professor at the Blair School of Music, Jeremy Wilson, and where we subsequently began to talk about a new piece for solo trombone and loop station. Full disclosure: I did not know what a “Loop Station” was when he first proposed the idea, but as a composer always up for new challenges, I reviewed his examples and decided it would be a fun project to do.
The result: Loop – D – Loop.
Loop – D – Loop is, of course, a play on words, but does refer to the fact that the entire piece revolves mostly around a D. My main goal in this piece was to create something that would be a “piece of music”, and not just a technological experiment. I wanted Jeremy to get a chance to show his personality, phrasing, and to make music, and feel like it is something worth playing at a musical level. The looping material is all built around that idea, to hopefully create something with form, shape, novelty, but also with worth. ~ James Stephenson
Learn more about the composer and purchase the sheet music at composerjim.com
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Calypsiete is a piece for trumpet, trombone, and piano trio written by David Rodgers. It was first performed and recorded by TRIIIOMNIA on Jeremy Wilson’s debut album, Perspectives. The piece begins with a slow bluesy ballad before developing into a funky and lopsided 7/8 calypso-inspired groove.
Learn more about the composer and purchase the sheet music at davidmrodgers.com
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Commissioned by Jeremy Wilson, Three Miniatures is a collection of different personalities. The opening Intrada is bold, aggressive and highly energetic. The Lullaby is very impressionistic, painting a picture of a father singing to his child at bedtime. The final Dance is exuberant and, for lack of a better, word, really fun. As the final movement develops, the opening six notes of the piece return in a chorale setting while several members of the ensemble continue the energetic dance-like rhythms present throughout the work.
My sincere appreciation goes out to Jeremy Wilson, former member of the Vienna Philharmonic and faculty member at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. Thank you for your confidence in me during this entire process and for helping me bring this piece into existence! ~ Brian Balmages
Visit him on the web at www.brianbalmages.com
There’s a whole YouTube playlist with music videos from the album
“From the very beginning I had wanted to record an album of music that was written for me, and I am so grateful I want able to make that a reality. The first work to be composed was the Ewazen, which was written for me to premiere at the 2017 ITF in Redlands CA. I then selected four other composers whose unique musical voice speaks to me and commissioned them to write works specifically for this project. The works they produced are as fun and challenging to perform as they are wonderful to listen to.” - Me, in the album’s liner notes
The Performers
Caleb Harris, piano and conductor
Caleb played piano on the Faleris and Ewazen and conducted the trombone ensemble on Balmages’ Three Miniatures
José Sibaja, trumpet
José is my colleague at Vanderbilt Blair School of Music, was assistant producer in the booth, and performed on David Rodgers’ Calypsiete
David Rodgers, piano
David composed and performed on the fourth piece on the album, Calypsiete
Trombone Octet
One of the coolest parts of the whole album for me personally was having a trombone ensemble composed of friends, colleagues, area musicians, and former students to accompany me on the Balmages Three Miniatures. Here’s the list: Paul Jenkins, David Loucky, Prentiss Hobbs, Matthew Herrmann, Li Kuang, Matt Jefferson, Brian Entwistle, Steven Brown
Photos!
