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REVIEW: …from ITEA Journal , Vol. 36, No. 1, Fall 2008
Most mainstream music groups eventually seem to eventually come out with the obligatory Christmas album. Since the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble is the most recorded tuba/euphonium ensemble in history, it seems only right that they put out their Christmas album, its 25th recording project to date and long overdue. The repertoire for this CD includes many Christmas favorites and a few other tunes associated with Christmas. In order of appearance they are Carol of the Bells , Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring , Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah , Hark the Herald Angels Sing , Greensleeves ,Angels We have Heard on High , God Rest You Merry Gentlemen , Deck the Halls (with Bells of Tubas ), We Wish You a Merry Christmas , Here Comes Santa Claus , Frosty the Snowman , One Horse Open Sleigh ( Jingle Bells ), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer , Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ,It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas , It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year , 12 Days of Housetops! , Go Tell! , Feliz Navidad , Sleigh Ride ,Merry Christmas Darling , My Favorite Things , and What's This? from The Nightmare Before Christmas . There is a 24th track put in just for fun. Without giving it away, it is in a similar vein to the last track on the Symphonia Fantastique CD recording Mr. Morris helped produce.
Many of the arrangers are quite familiar to tuba and euphonium players and include William R. Brusick, Gary Buttery, James A. Canter, James Garrett, Carroll Gotcher, Angelo Kortyka, Ben McMillian, Jon Oliver, Tim Olt, Scott Ramsey, Gail Robertson, David Werden, Robert Wilkinson, Kenyon Wilson, and David Wiseman. My hat is off to all of the arrangers for the excellent arrangements on this CD recording making the traditional even more exciting and arranging the original compositions to sound like they were composed for tuba/euphonium ensemble. Special mention should also be made of the three soloists on the CD. Curtis Prichard does a fine euphonium rendition of the Merry Christmas Darling tune with plenty of presence and clarity of tone. Soloists Kyle Newland and Kenji Kabe on tubas for My Favorite Things likewise provide tasty jazz riffs and improvisations of this great Sound of Musicfavorite (which actually has nothing to do with Christmas!)
With so many choices on this CD, I can only mention a few of my favorites although there is not a bad tune in the bunch! From the more traditional rendition of Greensleeves arranged by former Coast Guard band tubist Gary Buttery to a very unusual but effective rendition of Carol of the Bells , most of the arrangements feature something much more than the original melodic setting. I was a little disappointed that Sleigh Ride actually had some kind of sampled horse whinny instead of what could have been a contrabass trumpet section! 12 Days of Housetops has to have the most apocalyptic beginning to a traditional carol with chords and suspense worthy of Also sprach Zarathustra . On the other hand, Go Tell! is the best jazz version of this tune I have ever heard thanks to the arranging of William R. Brusick. They are all great.
Having listened to the entire album on headset as well as on my Bose stereo system, I can honestly say this ensemble has a great mix and blend. Every player is in top form and the bottom to the top of the ensemble is balanced and rich in sonority. The 40+ year tradition of the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble is more than a tradition. It is a force of nature consistently putting out quality musicians and recordings. This album is yet another testimony to R. Winston Morris and his incredible legacy as a pioneer in his field whose work has been emulated world-wide. You can bet this CD is going to be played at my home during the holidays and for our traditional Christmas party. My wife's teacher colleagues are going to freak this year!
--Mark Nelson, Pima Community College