AcclaimAxiom Brass at Nichols Hall - Bringing Brass Forward
As part of its 2010 – 2011 season of the Faculty and Guest Artist Series, the beautiful Nichols Hall at the Music Institute of Chicago hosted the remarkable and talented Axiom Brass for an evening of great music and a mission of hope in the classical community. The quintet of young, smartly dressed musicians filed onto the stage with speed and precision, facing each other in a relaxed yet confident stance. The opening notes of Witold Lutoslawski’s Mini Overture begin bouncing through the hall in staccato bursts, catching momentum from trumpet to horn then up into the rafters via tuba. Harmonies meet then diverge, chords ringing sonorously at moments then hitting a musical brick wall and audibly falling to the floor. The piece ends on an unsure tone, only defined by the unison snap of horns away from mouths and the choreographed V formation bow, all done with a casual ease and professional class. Meet Axiom Brass. Almost immediately after entrenching my expectations with the fully modern, the stately full harmonies and sweeping sustains of 17th century Isaac Posch begin ringing from the stage. A beautiful and regal sounding piece, the musicians were better able to exhibit their skill in balance and unity of sound, offering sweet and assertive notes in fat bold strokes. Bosch's contrastingly traditional Paduana from Centone No. 8 was performed with equal intensity and rigor to the modern virtuosic style of Ludoslawski, but with a composed, almost deliberate respect for the gravity of the romantics. Bach’s Contrapuntus VII, a spirited and audacious study in counterpoint, blended the virtuosic and the classic with a high caliber of performance, showcasing the high level of skill each muscian possesses. Dorival Puccini, Jr. (trumpet) peppered humor and humility in with engaging historical information as he spoke of the ensemble’s music selection. It is clear Puccini is an educator, as in some way all musicians must be, as he passionately contextualized the pieces, with help from Kevin Harrison (tuba). Their arrangements essentially speak for themselves, but hearing an explanation of composer Eric Ewazen and his motivation for the piece Colchester Fantasy makes it all the more enjoyable to hear as it is revealed to be essentially an ode to the tavern houses he visited on vacation. The whimsical, almost drunken candor of the third movement of Morley Calvert’s Suite from the Monteregian Hills would have seemed almost poorly played, if it weren’t for the explanation that valse ridicule does, in fact and in musical execution, translates to mean “ridiculous waltz”. The interplay between jazzy and modern, stately and serious made for a performance that really kept the listeners on their toes. Perhaps the most lasting impression of the evening was the mission of Axiom Brass. A group of students and educators, Axiom tours the country and the world acting as stewards of classical chamber music. Garnering acclaim in musical and educator circles alike, the ensemble breathes life into a genre beset on all sides by genres littered with amplifiers and synthesizers. The resonance of live instruments performing challenging music is a unique experience, one that is becoming an unceremoniously rare experience among American children (and adults). As an expression of the level of their commitment, Puccini asserted that the proceeds of Axiom’s recently released CD would go entirely to continuing the groups mission at home and abroad. Certainly the weight of spreading the classical chamber tradition doesn’t rest on the shoulders of this plucky brass ensemble. Not entirely at least. That said, as far as champions go, the genre could do worse. By Jonathan Rayfield Chicago Splash Magazine ” “The Axiom Brass Quintet is committed to honest and serious music-making at the highest level. Their chamber-music sensibility reflects the tradition of the most venerable and respected string quartets, even as the group displays a unique and compelling aesthetic around passionate and poetic brass performance.” Cliff Colnot, “…beauty and fullness of tone, precise intonation, virtuosic technique, expressive dynamic range, and stylistic flexibility. Axiom commands a repertoire ranging from Early Music and Renaissance to the most challenging contemporary compositions of today not to mention a fluency in the jazz idiom that puts most ensembles to shame. I have been consistently moved by their interpretations and inspired by their expressive maturity. …It is rare to find an ensemble possessing such artistic qualities also so devoted to education and outreach in its community, but this quintet is such an ensemble. They have performed over 100 educational concerts throughout the Chicago area as well as a summer brass seminar. Education is not just a side project for these men; it is one of their driving forces and a cornerstone of their mission.” Christopher Martin, “Their performance at Walk Festival Hall was excellent. From the moment they stepped on stage to the final standing ovation the group proved their experience, talent and personality. Their level of playing was superb and equal to the many great musicians who have played on our festival stage.” Tracy Jacobson “I was struck not only by their high level of musicality and technical ability, but also by their poised and assertive stage presence. …They have a clean, clear and precise sound. …This group does not miss a detail; they have a wide dynamic contrast, play with impeccable intonation, and have a balanced blend and approach to ensemble. Each performer is a virtuoso player.” Erin Ellenburg, “[Axiom Brass] has quickly become one of the most popular tickets of the presenting series in Nichols Concert Hall. …I have no doubt that any presenting venue would benefit from adding Axiom Brass to the series roster. The level of their professionalism, technical skill and musicianship is truly superior.” Fiona Queen, “Words cannot express how pleased I was with their joyful performance and the delight of our students. …Their dedication to music and enthusiasm for music-making was exuberantly transmitted to our students as they presented their diverse repertoire. I particularly liked the contemporary pieces they played, which were as engrossing and expressive as their Bach fugue. They augmented the performance with lively explanations of their instruments, background information on the music and composer, and a patient and informative question-and-answer session.” Denise Y. Knox “The Axiom Brass has a crystalline beauty of sound that is pure joy to hear. Thank you so much for your splendid performance of my "Duxbury Fanfare"! Lauren Bernofsky |