My jaw was on the floor for "Euphonium Magic" (Volume 1). It's still there, now in Volume 2.

I cannot remember the last time I had so much fun listening to a euphonium recording. With a potpourri of music (everything from Beethoven to The Simpsons!), Steve again reveals why he continues to be in amazing demand as one of the world's premiere brass soloists.

As taken from the liner notes: "In Vol. 2 the theme is the Music of Life; music drawn from across historic and stylistic barriers that reflect in turn heroic, turbulent, sad and reflective moods, capturing the effervescence of youth and simple folkloristic pleasures."

I can't top that synopsis of this disc, but will only comment that this is a recording that every euphoniumist should have in their library (along with Volume 1).

Before getting too specific, let me tip my hat to the mixer and editor of this CD, Mike Moor. I believe that the great challenge of releasing a disc such as this is that of convincing the listener that there weren't four tracks recorded at different times (or 16, as in the case of the Finale of
Beethoven's Fifth Symphony), rather, that there were four Steven Meads (or more) in the room at the time of the recording.

Obviously, most of these works are arrangements, but a few new original works for this instrumentation (in this case, euphonium quartet or quintet) dot the disc. Perhaps the most intriguing work on the CD is Yasuhide Ito's creative Euphoniums Parfait, a four movement suite (or is that sweet?) which contains the movements Fruits Parfait, Milonga di Malone, Cioccolata d'amore, and Gelato con Café. I should also make a mention of Thomas Dos's (also composed Sir "Eu") A la Romanesc (euphonium quintet) as well as the strikingly creative (and my personal favorite of the disc) And Soon It Will Be Blossom Time by Danish composer and trombonist Morgens Andresen. They are simply fantastic additions to the disc.

Perhaps what stands out to me most about the recording is the musicality that dominates it from start to finish. Whether it's the simplicity of Ase's Death (from Grieg's Peer Gynt, arr. Emily Harris) or Shenandoah (arr. James Olcott), the dazzling versatility (and range!) of Danny Elfman's (arr. Emily Harris) The Simpsons, or the late Luis Maldonado's arrangement, Entrance and Polka of the Euphonium Players, or the smoothness of Paul Desmond's (arr. Ingo Luis) Take Five or Duke Ellington's Come Sunday (arr. Leon Paul), Steve's Euphonium Magic, Vol. 2 is destined to please.

Oh, and be sure to check out the choir of Steve Mead(s) singing in Vejvoda's Rosamunde ("Beer Barrel Polka"). You'll enjoy this one.

Jason D. Ham, The Journal of the International Tuba-Euphonium Association