GM2009 John Swallow: A Little Trombone Music

Four recent trombone works by four composers from four different countries — England, Italy, France, and the United States — performed by one of America’s premier trombonists, John Swallow: that is A Little Trombone Music.

The juxtaposition of these works on one record reveals not only stylistic and nationally oriented contrasts, but fascinating commonalties and interrelationships between them.  The catalyst that binds these works together and bridges the stylistic gaps between them is jazz and improvisation.

From the Welchman Alun Hoddinott’s lively jaunty syncopations and Darius Milhaud’s jazz inspired vocal/theatrical effects to Gunther Schuller’s varied allusions to various jazz idioms, America’s only indigenous homegrown music runs like a reminding thread throughout the entire program.