On November 3, 2005, I attended a Junior Trombone Recital featuring Kyle Shafer and Adam Nicholson, both accompanied by Yuka Nakayama. Each played two pieces. The recital lasted about 35 minutes total, with no intermission.

Adam played his two pieces first. The Jacob is a classic, one I will be playing within, probably, the next year or so. Therefore, I was excited to hear it. Adam played it very well, especially considering he was playing it on a bass trombone! Then he played the Capuzzi Double Bass Concerto. Wow. Adam really is amazing at the bass trombone, and he made it sound truly beautiful. His flexibility in the lower register, combined with his ability to play in the upper register, truly is amazing. I really cannot make any negative or critiquing comments; I was very impressed and, not being previously familiar with the pieces, cannot make specific musical comments.

Kyle then came out and played his two pieces. He showed no signs of being nervous, but the softer sections of his second piece (Morceau Symphonique, by Guilmant) were a little too soft. Really, he didn’t have the breath-support he needed to make it really sound right. It wasn’t bad, by any means, but it wasn’t quite the way it should have been. I have heard Kyle play better, however, so I think it is somewhat attributable to nerves. His first piece, Drei Leichte Stücke by Paul Hindemith, was quite nice. I had never heard this piece, so it was great to finally get to do so. He played it very well, although a few of the faster passages with larger interval skips were dirty. I could not tell (and still do not know) if they were supposed to be connected or separated. I heard some of both in his playing of those sections, so I’m really not sure. However, I must not focus on the negative, because overall his sound was excellent, and he showed musicianship. I enjoyed his playing.

This was the first trombone recital that I have attended here at Ball State. It was great to get to see two players on the same recital. They both played very well, although, analytically, I can say that Adam played a little better than Kyle. Overall, though, both were musical and well-prepared.

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