Review

Jason Beghtol
Earth Summoner:
Unaccompanied bass trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2020
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score.

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - unaccompanied

Trombonists are often on the hunt for an unaccompanied piece that can be used to demonstrate the capabilities of their instrument, or to include on a recital to provide aural variety. Jason Beghtol—low brass professor, jazz band director, and assistant director of bands at Northeast Mississippi Community College, and bass trombonist of the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra—has written an engaging, seven-minute, unaccompanied solo for bass trombone in seven contrasting sections. Unfortunately, the title of Earth Summoner is not explained—who is doing the summoning and exactly how (or why) would the earth respond?—but the publisher says the piece is “a very good vehicle for learning rhythmic solidity in the fast sections and developing an expressive singing legato in the slow sections.” That is true—two sections require nimble triple tonguing, and the three slow sections feature legato melodies that are enjoyable to play—and the range of AA-f1 should provide no obstacle to players who want to give the piece a try and, in the process, improve their skills.