JEFFERSON CAMPBELL

"Throughout the album Campbell evokes a diverse breadth of sonorities, reflecting the versatility of his instrument. However, the real treat comes towards the end of the album with Bombardier’s “Bassoon Rawk,” which has the soloist accompanied by an ensemble of eight bassoons and one contrabassoon. This was a 'studio-made' recording, since Campbell played all ten parts. However, any shortcoming of spontaneity was compensated by no end of imaginative blends of the instruments’ sonorities."

Stephen Smoliar, The Rehearsal Studio [January 2020]

"Campbell has made his mark by commissioning new works for bassoon to increase its solo repertoire and support its place in music. The result on this CD is highly listenable and worthy of many repeat visits to enjoy its content."

Joel C. Thompson, Cherry Grove Music Review [November 2019]

"[Campbell] and his accompanists – Alexander Sandor on piano and Gene Koshinski on percussion – seem to get considerable pleasure from playing these works... Listeners enamored of the sound of the bassoon and interested in hearing works written for it in today’s musical styles (popular as well as classical) will also enjoy the disc... there are elements in all four of the longer works that are interesting and attractive even for an audience of non-bassoon players."

Mark J. Estren, InfoDad [October 2019]

"Thanks to Campbell’s technical mastery and his innate musicality and artistry, this disc can be recommended to an audience far beyond the world of bassoonists. With a very natural recorded sound and excellent balances, along with informative, well-written notes by Campbell, my expectations were delightfully exceeded."

Henry Fogel, Fanfare [November/December 2019]

"Campbell and pianist Alexander Sandor seem quite at home in jazz styles. Campbell also seems at home in the very high register... Terrific album."

Kilpatrick, American Record Guide [November/December 2019]

Since 2003, I have been steadily commissioning composers to create new works for the bassoon that I hoped would become favorites among the bassoon community, to be performed in recital with our already rich catalog of repertoire. My mission has been to stimulate the composition of new works that would be musically valid, challenging for the performer and engaging for the audience. Pocket Grooves is the culmination of my pursuit. [Jefferson Campbell]


With a focus on accessible music, bassoonist Jefferson Campbell has commissioned and premiered more than 20 works for his instrument in recent years. Campbell has performed with orchestras and in recital throughout the United States, including in California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, New York and North and South Carolina. Abroad, he has presented master classes and appeared as a recital soloist in Brazil, China, France, Germany and Russia. He is a member of the International Double Reed Society, has been published in the Double Reed journal and performed and presented at the IDRS Annual Conferences in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2015. Campbell, who has served as an adjudicator on chamber music and composition contests in the United States and internationally, has appeared on Nebraska Public Radio and North Carolina Public Radio. An active recording artist, he has released several albums, including Nostalgia (Innova), which received a Grammy nomination in 2009. Campbell is Professor of Bassoon in the Department of Music and Associate Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Dr. Campbell earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Western Kentucky University, a Master of Music degree in Bassoon Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Doctor of Music Arts degree in Bassoon Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His primary teachers were Cynthia Estill, C. Larry Long, Mark Popkin, Gary Echols and Dr. Albie Micklich.
[ www.jeffersoncampbell.com ]

Pianist Alexander Sandor has performed as a soloist with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Itasca Symphony Orchestra, Red Cedar Symphony, University of Wisconsin-Superior Chamber Orchestra and Long Prairie Chamber Orchestra. Organist at the United Presbyterian Church in Superior, Wisconsin, Sandor is also a veteran of ragtime festivals across the United States. He recently presented a lecture recital in New York City entitled Ragtime Sings the Jews with fellow University of Wisconsin-Superior graduate Daniel Singer and ragtime scholar Ed Berlin. Sandor has worked at the Interlochen Arts Academy as an accompanist, both improvising music for dance classes and playing for student recitals. A successful recording artist, his Fingerbuster and Cascades albums have been highly acclaimed and widely distributed. Sandor received his Master’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of Arizona and his Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

Percussionist, composer and educator Gene Koshinski has delighted audiences worldwide with dynamic performances and creative programming. Well-known for his versatility as a solo, chamber, symphonic, jazz, pop and World Music artist, he has performed in Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Jordan, Slovenia and throughout the United States. Koshinski has worked with many notable performing artists and organizations, including NFL Films, Late Show with David Letterman, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Wycliffe Gordon, Tom Harrell, Denis DiBlasio, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Philadelphia Boys Choir, The Lettermen, Hartford Symphony, Minnesota Ballet and Percussive Arts Society International Convention. He is currently Principal Percussionist for the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra. His performances have been heard on the CBS, NPR, PBS and ESPN networks. An active recording artist, he has released with Centaur, Equilibrium, Innova, MSR Classics and Naxos. Koshinski’s percussion method books, recordings and compositions are distributed internationally, with many of his compositions receiving frequent performances across the globe. Koshinski, a sponsored artist of Pearl/Adams Instruments, Sabian Cymbals, Remo and Innovative Percussion, is Professor of Percussion at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
[ www.genekoshinski.com ] GRAEME SHIELDS (b.1992)
FOUR ONOMATOPOEIAS for Bassoon and Piano
I. Buh-uh
II. Ba Doo-ah
III. Wah Bit-itty Doo-Wah
IV. Gah-da-Bah

JESS HENDRICKS (b.1972)
CONCERTINO for Bassoon and Electronics
I. Aria
II. Dance and Fugue
III. Adventurous

STEVEN MOELLERING (b.1977)
SONATA for Bassoon and Piano
I. Improvisation
II. Lullaby
III. Rondo

GENE KOSHINSKI (b.1981)
POCKET GROOVES for Bassoon and Percussion
I. Joropo
II. Samai
III. Choro

GET IT! for Bassoon and Percussion

BRUCE GRAINGER (b.1954) | Arr. TRUMAN BULLARD
A STEAMBOAT LULLABY for Bassoon and Piano

BRAD BOMBARDIER (b.1960)
BASSOON RAWK for Bassoon and Bassoon Ensemble

STEVEN SONDHEIM (b.1930) | Arr. JEFFERSON CAMPBELL
SEND IN THE CLOWNS for Bassoon and Piano
 



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