The 2014 Thelonious Monk Trumpet Competition has finished, and the winner is the incredible young player Marquis Hill from Chicago, with Billy Buss in second place and Adam O’Farrill in third. The entire lineup of young players competing this year was stellar, and I encourage you to head over to youtube and check out all of the performances here.

What an interesting month it has been!

Now that Rubicon has been released and is out in the world, I have turned my attention to a new project, working on music for a larger ensemble than any of my previous recordings. More about that soon!

I was also happy to join the Bone Chimes this month in recording their next single. Sounds great!

Finally, check out the new release by Avishai Cohen, Dark Nights. It’s fantastic.

I was asked to perform part of Handel’s “Messiah” for Easter service at a local church, including the very challenging Bass Aria referenced above. Preparing for this performance gave me a chance to reflect on how much the role of the trumpet has changed since Handel composed this work back in 1741. The valved trumpet was still nearly a hundred years away, yet Handel gives the trumpet a very exposed, lyrical role. This Oratorio is a beautiful work, and I encourage you to give the entire composition a listen. There is a fantastic recording by the London Symphony that you can listen to here.

Heard some very interesting and fresh music at the Tea Lounge recently, Michael Webster’s “Leading Lines” ensemble.  Take a listen here

The addition of a string section, clarinet, flute, and oboe to a traditional jazz rhythm & horn section added a palette of sound that I wish more jazz composers utilized.