ALERT: New Tuba CD out in January

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:36 am

I was just told about this cd from my old boss at the radio station:

British Tuba Concertos
James Gourlay-Tuba
Royal Ballet Orchestra-Gavin Sutherland

Concertos by Golland, Gregson, Steptoe, and Vaughn-Williams
Naxos 8.557754

You can go to the Naxos website and down at the bottom is a small avatar of the cover, click on it and it has all the details. If you want to pay $20/month, you can have unlimited downloads of anything in the Naxos catalouge.

I assume this will be pretty astounding given the repetoire, soloist, and orchestra. I have never heard the Steptoe Concerto. Cheers.

Chuck

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 4:22 am

Ok, so here is an update. You can sign up for a free listen of the pieces, at least 25% of them on the Naxos website. I was wrong before, the free listening to the whole Naxos cataloge is only $20/year.

I was able to listen to most of the tracks and I can report that there is some incredibly good tuba playing going on. Very vibrant sound, fabulous articulation, legato to die for, and some grand music making. The Gregson sounds odd to my ears having never heard it done with orchestra. It is quite nice. The Vaughn-Williams is as good as I have ever heard it. The most compelling piece on the recording is the Steptoe Concerto. It is a beautiful work that is a work-out without sounding like it. I am VERY surprised this work hasn't crossed the pond, but I sense it will. The Golland Concerto is quite good as well.

The orchestra is first rate as is the sound recording. I listen to pretty high end computer speakers and I found something nice, they don't over do the low end sonically. My sub-woofer only kicked in a couple of times.

James Gourlay is a flat out fantastic player and it really shows on this recording. At @ $7, yes you read that right, $7 US this is going to be the steal of all times. Buy it, you won't regret it.

Chuck

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:26 pm

Keep hitting your refresh button. The CD cover will show up in a section at the bottom of the home page titled, very small I might add, Next Months releases. Be patient, it's there.

Chuck

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:55 pm

I just picked up the link from the avatar at the bottom of the page 4 out of 4 times. Everytime you go to their home page the Next Month's releases are shuffled around. I guess I got lucky. I think I will invest the $20 and get the membership, this CD, and the rest of the catalouge is worth it.

Disclaimer: I am not shilling for Naxos. As a former air host for a major market Classical Station I am, however, very partial to Naxos as they have had some fabulous disks in the past 2 years and at a budget price. If you haven't heard the "Wagner Opera Choruses" with the Royal Swedish Opera Chorus and Orchestra with Leif Segerstrom you are missing out on one of the finest recordings of the past 5 years. The singing and orchestral playing are first rate and whoever the tuba player is, I would like to buy him/her lunch, the playing is nothing short of incredible.

Uncle Buck · Post by **Uncle Buck** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:59 pm

OK, I'm stupid, but I can't figure out how to order the CD.

OK, the link to order worked the second time I tried.

Yes, the CD price is a great one, but the shipping cost stinks.

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:12 pm

DO NOT ORDER THE CD FROM THE SITE. This cd will hit Amazon in January if my past dealings with English companies are any indicator. Remember, it hasn't been released yet. Naxos is one of the easiet products to order from the big catalouges as they have a tendency to flood the market upon release. I encourage you to get the free listening option and get a taste as it is quite good.

Chuck

Steve Marcus · Post by **Steve Marcus** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:12 pm

The Naxos Newsletter indicates that the CD has been released.

Check out http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/NaxosCat/ ... &memberID=.

AndyCat · Post by **AndyCat** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:28 pm

EXCELLENT recording and performing on this CD. Recommended!

AndyCat · Post by **AndyCat** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:29 am

From parallel thread (don'y know if someone can merge them?!)

Yes, Great CD all round. Excellent performance from both soloist and orchestra, and very well recorded.

I was speaking to James about it on Staurday. They recorded it in the same studio as Superman soundtrack was recorded, which he also played on!

He is playing the BEsson 980 EEb for the entirity of the Recording by the way, and he's very pleased with the outcome!

IF you're in the UK I think you can order the CD from his site for Â£5!

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:59 am

Yeah. What he said.