Pianist
Bill Mays and trumpeter
Marvin Stamm have been longtime friends, and have worked together on an occasional basis through the years. Cellist
Alisa Horn considers
Stamm to be her mentor, and she was introduced by the trumpeter to
Mays in 2005. This CD has four trumpet or flügelhorn/piano duets from 2001 and four numbers (including the three-part "Fantasy") by the trio from 2005.
Mays and
Stamm have played classical duets as part of their repertoire in concert and, since
Horn comes from classical music (though she is working at building up her improvising skills), the music often utilizes classical melodies including selections from
Rachmaninov,
Debussy,
Scriabin,
Gershwin, and
Debussy. In two cases, the pieces are medleys that match together complementary classical and jazz pieces. These renditions of "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," "Vocalise," and
Gershwin's "Prelude No. 2" are particularly memorable and
Bill Mays' inventive and tasteful arrangements, along with the individual solos, make this a highly recommended disc.