The music is heavy on mood and the trumpet's tendancy to seek out harmonic and tonal centres based more on a focused intensity than an excess of emotion.
In a program of newly commissioned works for trumpet and piano, trumpeter John Adler explores modern classical pieces from the pens of composers most often associated with the jazz world. Dr. James Miley, Dan Cavanaugh, and Steve Owen all contribute pieces to this unique album, full of advanced rhythmic and harmonic language, and often involving improvisational elements. The result is an intriguing package of seven new compositions that could invoke comparisons to the 20th Century works of Hindemith, Kennan, and Eric Ewazen. Dr. John Adler was one of three Americans invited to compete in the prestigious Maurice Andre Trumpet Competition, in Paris, 2006. He was voted "Best Classical Instrumentalist" in Downbeat Magazine, and has been a soloist with orchestras and chamber groups across the U.S.
Track Listing:
1-3 {this is} for trumpet and piano 14:46 (JAMES MILEY)
1 42 Years Later 5:21
2 Under the Rug 4:35
3 ...By the Time I Looked Down It Was Too Late 4:50
4 Solitude 5:36 (STEVE OWEN)
5 Confronting Inertia 10:37 (ERIK FERGUSON)
6 Cantus for Trumpet and Electronics 6:36 (ERIC NATHAN)
7-8 From the Barrage Comes Clarity 7:14 (DAN CAVANAGH)
7 Part One 4:52
8 Part Two 2:22
9-10 Progressing to the One State or the Other (BENJAMIN BOONE)
9 Peace 8:08
10 RAGE 8:05
Performers:
JOHN ADLER - trumpet / flugelhorn
TRACY COWDEN - piano
Production Info:
Produced by John Adler & James Miley
Recorded by Micah Hayes & Jon Utt
in Blacksburg, VA, on January 13-16, 2009
Mixed by Micah Hayes, Arlington, TX
Mastered by John McCaig, Seattle, WA
Photography by Colin Soutar
Cover design by John Bishop
Reviews of Confronting Inertia
Gramophone Magazine (Laurance Vitters)
New music breaking out of the acedemic world and into the nightclub. John Adler may not be a trumpet-playing beauty like Alieen Balsom or Tine Thing Helsch but the music he makes is but just the same. For this recording he and Tracy Cowden play seven new works commissioned for the "Confronting Inertia" project, which features trumpet works in cla ...
