I had the distinct pleasure of attending a free concert by the Sotto Voce Quartet in Kansas City yesterday evening. The concert was jointly setup by Tom Stein at UMKC and Scott Watson at KU, and was attended mostly by low brass players, teachers and students associated with these Universities.
My only regret about this concert was that it was so meagerly attended, since the program and the playing were both so outstanding and thoroughly enjoyable that one could only have wished for a fuller house in its audience.
The program was extremely diverse in repertoire and style, accompanied by both engaging and informative introductions to the pieces on the part of the Quartet members. This Quartet plays wonderfully, and if you have only heard them on one of their available CD's then you really need to treat yourself to a live performance if you get the chance.
Along with their superb musicianship, this Quartet has enormous audience appeal and creates an atmosphere of true pleasure, fun and enjoyment in the presentation of all of their music.
They all play a variety of low brass instruments, including trombones, and they spread their musical sensitivity and stylistic expression widely throughout centuries of repertoire, from Renaissance and Baroque to VERY present day.
It was truly a "fun" and easy experience to sit in the audience throughout this delightful recital, and I also had the privilege of hanging out with some of them for some social time afterwards.
If you have ever wonder WHY you/we all continue to play music, then go to a live Sotto Voce Concert and see and hear the answer face to face. You will have a lovely time and will be pumped for the next several weeks or months of your life.
Barbara "I don't play brass, I only write for them" York