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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