Tom McCaslin, Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., has a vast array of international performance credentials, and has studied with many of today’s finest teachers—beginning at age 12 with John Griffiths. Regarding this CD he states,” When deciding to record an album of my own, the ambition became to find pieces that weren’t well known, reflected the virtuosity of my background, and spoke to my own musical opinion. What I’ve collected here are six pieces that I feel deserve the exposure and listening they have not yet received.”
These choices include Sam Pilafian’s Relentless Groves II: Armenia, Jorge Salagueiro’s cONCERTO fOR tUBA, Frank Zappa’s Outside Now Again, Juraj Filas’ Sonate, Francois Thuillier’s Rebellion, and Elizabeth Raum’s Tribute. For those of you who love the road less traveled and can go where angels fear to tread, you’ve come to the right spot! This CD will require multiple hearings because there is so much extended range, control, and technique in each work that it oftentimes becomes nearly as big a challenge for the listener as for the performer. It appeals as an auditory smorgasbord that must at times be taken in small bites.
The “cutting edge” feel in these selections presents Mr. McCaslin in a good light as an excellent player, with a definite gift for accuracy in all extremes. Sounding reminiscent of James Grant’s Three Furies, and Penderecki’s Capriccio, it is probably a safe bet that some if not all of these tunes will find their way into the well known tuba literature as players are challenged and emboldened to emulate the performances heard here. Hopefully this CD will serve to inspire the “next generation” of young tubists who will hear and accept this as regular playing, and strive to push the limits even further.
Relentless Grooves with its prerecorded accompaniment that presents folk instrumentation and rhythmic elements is totally successful and accessible. It is an excellent and engaging opener, just as Tribute (to John Griffiths) is a beautiful closer. This CD does stand tall as a fearless presentation of new works for tuba.
"lf this recital doesn't convert you to the lyricism of the tuba, nothing will. Contrary to the tuba's oft-imagined "oom-pah" stigma, the instrument can be as pliable, lyical and musically multi-dimensional as its brass brethren, at least when Tom McCaslin's extraordinary virtuosity and musicianship is concerned."
"This is not your grandfather’s tuba, the genial, lovable purveyor of polka oom-pah-pahs or even the deep anchor of symphonic brass sections and marching bands. This is a flexible, agile instrument with a wide compass, capable of everything from sweet-toned lyricism to growling assertiveness, its latent attributes fleshed out by multiphonics, whoops, splats, and prerecorded sounds. Tom McCaslin, one of a growing number of contemporary tuba virtuosos, seems to be having a great time performing this imaginatively programmed recital, in the process awakening listeners to the instrument’s capabilities......But for those who, like me, don’t get to hear much of this music, this CD was an ear-opener."
"Every now and then, a new recording comes along that truly marks a step forward for our instrument. Tom McCaslin has done just that with his new CD Inside Out. There’s a lot to like about this album. The material is fresh, the playing is inspired and the production is excellent. McCaslin’s sound is full and rich and flows very naturally. But what is more striking than that is how musically he plays."
"Once again Crystal Records casts its capacious net and lands some fish. The tuba and piano combination is not one that immediately brings to mind many imperishable masterpieces but this disc runs the gamut of stylistic affiliations to produce some intriguing examples of the genre - and also not of the genre......Splendid performances then are allied to good sound and an eclectic, never off-putting repertoire."
