Trumpeter James Darling’s long out-of-print 1973 Advent/Telarc LP of trumpet and piano music is finally available. I picked up my copy at CD Baby, and I’m listening to it right now. Foolishly, I never picked up a copy at the B-W bookstore when it was there, and I’ve been looking through the stacks at used record stores ever since hoping one would show up.
On the disc are sonatas of Halsey Stevens (a piece I worked on with Jim my freshman year), Kent Kennan and Bertold Hummel, as well as short pieces by Jolivet and Ibert. Again, what can I say about playing like this? Very musical, with incredibly accurate articulation and intonation, as well as a pure and clean sound throughout. Genevieve Sidoti, who I had the pleasure of playing with on a few recitals when she was the staff pianist there, is the dead-on accompanist. If you’re a trumpet player, go grab one.
Love that ‘stache.
Somewhere between Mark Spitz and a ’70s porn star.