RECITAL FOR TROMBONE

Andrew Berryman

Review by David Whitson

As Denis Wick so aptly describes in his sleeve notes for this CD - "The world of the trombone has been enriched in the last ten years by a rising level of virtuosity that would have been undreamed of forty years ago". Andrew Berryman certainly can be included in that ongoing demonstration of technical merit that seems to be flourishing in the United Kingdom at this time. Trombone recitals are becoming such hot-beds of activity in the musical sense and this CD shows that power and control coupled with musicianship is very much Andrew's forte.

The disc opens with Concertino, Op.45 No.7 by Lars-Erik Larsson, which happens to be a favourite of mine. I was not at all disappointed, despite a reproduction quality on the disc which I thought could have been clearer in sound.

Arthur Pryor, described as the "greatest trombone player who ever lived", is represented with two of his own compositions: Thoughts Of Love and Love's Enchantment.

I remember being stunned by John Pollard's playing of the latter work in a concert many years ago given by Grimethorpe Colliery Band at Reading Town Hall. John was principal trombone of Grimethorpe at the time and gave me a glimpse of the technical expertise possible in such a lovely solo. Andrew Berryman is, of course, from the same background and even played with Grimethorpe Junior Band. His brass band background certainly becomes evident in his performance of both the Pryor works, ably demonstrating great acrobatics on the trombone.

Carnival by Paul Weschke, arranged by Simon Kerwin, also shows the glittering technique of Andrew so well. This arrangement has an Adagio opening leading to a cadenza which explores the range of the trombone to both its extremities.

My favourite track is Centaur by Gerard Victory, whose compositions include five operas, orchestral, vocal and chamber works which are performed in Ireland and abroad. This work is so lively and obviously fun to play. It is a graphic musical portrait of the quarrelsome and violent race of half-man, half-horse creatures of Greek mythology.

Other works on the CD include Gräfe's Trombone Concerto, Ferdinand David's Concertino, Op.4 and Cavatine by Saint-Saëns.

CD Info:
Doyen Solo Series CD

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