On My Way
Soloist: Mauro Martins
Portuguese Air Force Band
Conductors: TCOR Antonio Rosado, CAP Rui Silva
MDM Recordings: MDM 001
Mauro Martins has travelled a long way to get where he is today.
Swiss born of Portuguese heritage, he studied at the Professional School of Arts in Covilha and Performing Arts in Porto before navigating a journey of various international music competitions, recitals, concerts and festivals. Now teaching in Norway the release follows his critically acclaimed ‘Flow’ in 2020.
Still only 29, he casts his eye over his musical shoulder to reconnect with stopover markers in his (and arguably others) journey to artistic maturity, joined by the Portuguese Air Force Band who accompany with eager vibrancy and reflective elegance.
Stamp
Linkola’s imposing ‘Concerto’ marks a point furthest back in his timeline. Commissioned in 1996 and premiered by Yukka Myllys, it has since been recorded by a significant coterie of performers, each leaving their own stamp of individuality on it.
The composer’s unfamiliarity with the instrument gave free rein to explore a myriad of different avenues in his scoring - although the soloist’s virtuosity is a willing slave to his artistic integrity.
It is a work of great agility; gentle jazz elements sat against robust exuberance, the delicate Nocturne, music of the dying light, transitioning into an energised finale of dramatic impulses.
It is a work of great agility; gentle jazz elements sat against robust exuberance, the delicate Nocturne, music of the dying light, transitioning into an energised finale of dramatic impulses.
Martins plays with a respectful poise to his purpose; the agitation never fevered to open, the reflection played with a sense an enveloping dusk. The finale is controlled in its boldness.
Touchstone work
Johan de Meij ‘UFO’ Concerto was premiered (in this wind band version) in 2012 by Jason Ham and has since become a touchstone work.
Martins brings flair as well as consideration – an insistence on clarity and control rather than mere excitement, the main cadenza a nod of appreciation to David Childs. It is playing of mature vitality and spirit.
Despite the catchy title, the thematic inspirations are very much grounded in the reality of the familiar and repeated throughout its five movements. The composer draws the music forward with melodic flow and technical certainty rather than unworldly invention.
Martins brings flair as well as consideration – an insistence on clarity and control rather than mere excitement, the main cadenza a nod of appreciation to David Childs. It is playing of mature vitality and spirit.
Thumping
Gilles Rocha’s thumping ‘Blind Spot’ is reminiscent of his ‘Fly or Die’ showcase solo for bass trombone – splashed onto the same canvas of primary colourings and dayglo effects, melodic ear worm ease and whizz-bang technical pyrotechnics, that puts a huge smile on the face like a sugar rush high energy drink.
It's a police chase finale of screaming euph wheels leaving snakey skid marks on Martins’ road to even more exciting journeys (although hopefully with more readable sleeve notes – they are miniscule in text size) to new musical destinations.
Iwan Fox
To purchase: http://www.mauromartins.pt
https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0DJ3P989C
Play list:
1. UFO Concerto (Johan de Meij)
i. Andante/Con Moto
ii. Giocoso/Vivo
iii. Andante Cantabile
iv. Vivace
iv. Alla Marcia/Vivace
2. Euphonium Concerto (Jukka Linkola)
i. Agitato
ii. Quasi Nocturne
iii. Maestoso Energico
3. Blind Spot (Gilles Rocha)
