Russian Brass with the Empire Brass Quintet - The Music of Victor Ewald

One of my favorite brass recordings during my youth was this record made in 1977 for Sine Qua Non that featured 3 brass quintets of Victor Ewald, performed by the Empire Brass Quintet. I wore out my cassette tape years ago and I've been searching the bins for the lp for quite some years. Well, good fortune shined on me this past weekend,  for buried on a bottom shelf at the Goodwill was this lp in remarkably fine shape.

About Ewald: Russian "amateur" composer of late 19th century who nearly fit the profile of the "Mighty Five." His music here is very nicely crafted, with a "Russian" flair and it is splendid in a sense that it does not overstay its welcome.  This is quality stuff and it is given immaculate and sensitive performances by the EBQ in one of the group's very first recordings, before they dropped the "Quintet" from the name.

I have fond memories of seeing the EBQ during my junior high and high school years. A product of Boston University, when BU was the place to go, the original group featured Rolf Smedvig and Charlie Lewis on trumpet, Norm Bolter on trombone, David Ohanian on horn and Sam Pilafian on tuba. What is striking about this original incarnation of the EBQ is the high level of musicianship and sensitivity that these guys brought to the table. In my opinion, it doesn't get much better than this. Sadly, I don't believe that later versions of the Empire Brass measured up to the maturity that these 5 young players had as a unit.

Couple other notes: the EBQ was based in Boston though took Empire as its name because the guys thought that after graduation, they'd end up in New York City which is in the Empire State! And, these old SQN recordings featured terrific notes by BU musicologist John Daverio.

Enjoy - I am happy to welcome back this old friend.

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The American Brass Band Journal - Empire Brass Quintet and "Friends"

Here's my American Independence Day offering. This is one of the very first recordings by members of the Empire Brass Quintet and its a real winner. This actually was a follow-up to a CBS record titled The American Brass Band Journal. The difference between the two is that the CBS recording had members of the BSO along with the Empire Brass Quintet and this issue features the very fine brass from the National Symphony as "friends." In addition, Frederick Fennell's unique mark is very much a part of this Sine Qua Non (SQN) recording made at the Library of Congress in 1977.

All of the pieces on this lp would have been featured in brass band concerts held from the 1860's through the end of the 19th century. The works here call for superb vituosity and keen musicianship and the personal on this record certainly have this all and more. The music is tuneful, toe tapping, and highly optimistic.

The Empire Brass Quintet of 1977 was young, adventurous, and highly talented. The members - Rolf Smedvig, Charlie Lewis, Norm Bolter, David Ohanian and Sam Pilafian met during their student years at Boston University and established the EBQ during this time. They actually named it Empire because all believed that they would end up working in New York after graduation. For those that do not know, New York is the "Empire" state. On the topic of Boston University, well, hands down it was the place to be for music performance during the 70' and 80's. The university turned out some remarkable talents and, of the five musicians here, four have had highly successful careers as soloists and ensemble players. Thirty years after this recording was made, Rolf Smedvig remains the only original member of the group still playing in the Empire Brass. Sadly...I thought these original five were the best of all the EBQ incarnations.

Enjoy this fine program of music from a bygone era when the concert in the park was the mp3/Ipod player of the day!

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