Tribute to the Northern Winds

This CD from the Norwegian label Simax features over 76 minutes of music for wind/brass orchestra, played here by the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces conducted by Ole Kristian Ruud. The only semi-famous composer featured here is Hugo Alfven (1872-1960), one of Sweden's most popular composers. His Festival Overture is a delight and needs no introduction. Works by other Scandinavian composers from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland are featured here and each work is immediately accessible and immensely enjoyable to hear. The Palace Rhapsody by Sallinen is a 16 minute tone poem describing an exotic palace and the intrigue that is endemic to it. It features sections that sound reminiscent of Gershwin in "An American in Paris" and "Porgy and Bess" mode along with some more menacing sections reminiscent of certain John Williams film scores. Schmidt's Homage A Stravinsky features references to various works by Stravinsky, both famous and less-known. If you like Stravinsky, it is impossible to resist this work, which is humorous and colorful. The remaining works are equally enjoyable and they are all played to perfection by the Norwegian band, which plays with precision and virtuosity.The main reason to acquire this disc is the inclusion of the nearly 20 minute Trumpet Concerto No. 2 by Finnish composer Jukka Linkola (born 1955), played by Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth. Helseth has, over the past 5 years or so, proven herself to be perhaps the most gifted trumpet soloist on the musical scene today. Her intonation is perfect, her tone always sweet and almost vocal, and her musicality is of the highest order. Linkola's concerto is a craggy and exciting modernist work reminiscent of fellow-Finn Magnus Lindberg's Violin Concerto but with elements of jazz influence added to the mix. The second movement starts out with echoes of Copland's Quiet City and then moves into more "bluesy" territory. The entire work is gripping from start until finish, especially since it is played here with such color and variation by Helseth. Those familiar with her first two albums, Trumpet Concertos by Haydn, Albinoni, Neruda & Hummel [Hybrid SACD] (with music from the Classical period) and My Heart Is Ever Present: Music for Trumpet (with more Romantic music), will find the playing here on the same high level but revealing a fluency in jazz idiom as well as an astonishing virtuosity that exceeds even those earlier performances. Helseth's signature pure, almost vocal tone is not in any way compromised by the foray into more modernist musical terrain.This CD is an essential addition to the library of anyone who appreciates excellent trumpet playing and/or first-rate brass/wind music. The sound quality is absolutely perfect throughout, with the dynamic range, clarity, and high-impact of the best surround recordings. Tine Helseth has recently signed onto EMI Classics, with a scheduled debut album for them, called "Storyteller," due October 2011 (American release date: Jan. 24, 2012). With playing on this level, it is fair to say that Simax's loss is EMI's gain!Later note: Having just read the AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE's review of this album, I wanted to share their comments with those who don't have access to it. This is from the Nov/Dec 2011 (No. 74:6) issue, p. 230:"Listening to the young trumpeter soloist Tine Thing Helseth, it is easy to understand why she has a big following. She had already made two solo albums before making this recording at age 22. She has it all: clear yet consistently warm tone, incisiveness and ease in the high register, compelling ways with phrases both lyrical and biting, excellent technical skill, and charisma in the spotlight."

This is the best concert band recording that I have ever heard. If you like 'wind music', you must have this in your collection; if not your car.

WOnderful group but asking Tine THing Helseth to solo several pieces is a great idea. you can fell her heart in every note this is an artist worth watching (Look for her Storyteller Release in Feb)