British Bandsman Magazine 13 Dec. 2003

This CD, released on Steven’s own new recording company, Bocchino Music, more than lives up to its name. Amongst the all-time greats of the euphonium and with over 20 previous CDs to his name, the globe-trotting Mead combines his unsurpassed skill and imagination with some of the wonders on modern technology in what he has called the first ‘Multi-Mead’ solo disc, on which he plays every single part in each arrangement.

Multi-tracking is not new, of course; I seem to remember the legendary John Fletcher producing a tuba quartet in this way many years ago. But this disc is on a different planet.

There are 14 tracks with the number of parts ranging from four to an incredible 17, each played by Steven, and there are transcriptions of several piano pieces, all of which work unbelievably well. There’s also Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor and some orchestral classics including two block-busters: Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, with 17 Meads playing and the Dukas Sorcerer’s Apprentice (apparently the inspiration behind the title) with a mere 14 Meads, but providing one of the CD’s many highlights. Another highlight for me (although perhaps it wont be everyone’s cup of tea) is the celebrated Sonata Pian’e Forte of Giovanni Gabrieli – played antiphonally by two of Mead’s quartets. You could quite easily imagine here that you were listening to an ensemble of sackbuts.

This leads me to another intriguing feature about the disc. I must confess, I was a little apprehensive at the prospect of listening to almost 56 minutes of wall-to-wall euphonium. I need not have worried. The constantly changing tone and style of ‘sorcerer’ Mead leads you to believe that you are listening not only to euphonium, but also to trombones , French horns, saxophones and even trumpets and the occasional flugel horn. There are also some tremendous tuba-like sounds, as well as the occasional mean bass trombone!

As expected, the playing is always at the super-high level and arrangements, several of them by Maurice Bale, are all first rate. The least successful track in my view, is the Bach organ piece (despite the cathedral-like ambience created by the technology) but then, having in the past been seated many times at the organ, I would say that, wouldn’t I? You may well disagree. Other outstanding tracks include Debussy’s Golliwog’s Cakewalk and The Girl with the Flaxen Hair.

Closing the disc and as a complete contrast to earlier tracks are three jazz lollipops. Stephen Roberts treats us to a taste of boogie-woogie in a classic arrangement of Frankie and Johnny and , after Fly Me to the Moon, a slick version of Jump, Jive an’Wail brings a simply stunning CD to fantastic, super-heated finish.

Believe me, the more you listen to this disc, the more amazed you’ll be. There are several tracks that I haven’t even mentioned.

They’re all brilliant and this CD is an absolute ‘must’.

- Dr. Roy Newsome, British Bandsman Magazine 13 Dec. 2003