“The repertoire for wind ensemble is vast and colourful. On their dynamic new release, The University of Texas Wind Ensemble and conductor Jerry Junkin take up four recent, worthy examples. Along with superbly balanced and vibrant playing, the performances confirm that American composers have no shortage of imagination when writing for wind, brass and percussion. Dan Welcher uses the ensemble as an exuberant body in Spumante, a whimsical burst of energy filled with bright thematic material and fizzy interplay. … Hints of music by George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein peer through the engaging writing of Frank Ticheli's Clarinet Concerto…It's a jazzy and affectionate piece performed with élan by Nathan Williams…The disc takes its title from John Mackey's Wine Dark Sea: Symphony for Band…Led by Junkin, the Texas musicians give the score a boldly detailed and sonorous account…that will fill up whatever environment in which this disc spins.” —Donald Rosenberg, Gramophone
Labels: Donald Rosenberg, Gramophone Magazine, Jerry Junkin, Review, University of Texas Wind Ensemble, WineDarkSea