Trombonist Deb Scott release her new album, Playing Favorites, accompanied by pianist Ron Petti. She performs a variety of her favourite pieces that appeal to her background in jazz and to her considerable technical skill.

Scott chose each piece carefully, and states that what she loves about each one is its ability to engage a diverse audience making for enjoyable and exciting musical moments. The central piece on the album is Stephen Lias’s 'River Runner', written in response to a paddling trip he took with Scott through Big Bend National Park’s Santa Elena Canyon.

She also gives her take on Derek Bourgeois’s 'Trombone Concerto', written for Christian Lindberg. This is a track that will appeal to pop, jazz, and classical audiences. William Goldstein’s emotional 'Colloquy for Solo Trombone' uses elements of jazz against a backdrop of Americana.

The album closes with 'Variations on 'The Carnival of Venice'' composed by Jean-Baptiste Arban. This arrangement by Donald Hunsberger was actually composed for trumpet and originally performed by Wynton Marsalis.

To be fair, 'Colloquy for Solo Trombone' alone is worth buying this album for - even if you don't listen to any of the other tracks, this is a beauty.

It's a bit of a mixed bag, but then that means that there's something here for everyone, as well as perfectly showing off Scott's diverse range and ability to morph herself to various forms of playing. An interesting album.

7

Darren Rea