I was once a trumpeter. Coming from the past, two records are now available of my life as a performer with the American Festival of Microtonal Music (AFMM) in New York : Ideas (PITCH P-200212) and Bassoonist (PITCH P-200214). Both albums are produced by my dear friend the bassoonist, director and composer Johnny Reinhard who created and still manage the AFMM.

You can buy them at CDBaby!

You can hear me playing in 1988 on Harry Partch’s Ulysses Departs From The Edge on the album Ideas.

I am also part of the ensemble in one of my first commissioned work Mellow Tones For Johnny. It is part of Bassoonist and I read with a smile the liner note I wrote at the time in 1993:

“Listening back to the live recording of Mellow Tones for Johnny brings to me some nostalgia. I remember what I wanted to capture while I composed this piece: some of the freedom we got out of the eclectic repertoire the American Festival of Microtonal Music (AFMM) was able to offer. Mostly it was a gift to a dear friend of mine: Johnny Reinhard. He devoted so much passion over the years for this music. It was written in the stars I would some day commit myself to some microtonal technique. Being trumpeter of the AFMM Ensemble for so long, I felt it was important for me to leave something of my own perspective. I worked hands on with the sound using a synthesizer mapped in quarter tones. The piece is in two parts, beginning with a Prelude that sets the mood for the entrance of the bassoon in a lyrical fashion. The second part moves to particular rhythmic and contrapuntal elements. After some cinematic images, the two good friends close in conversation together: trumpet and bassoon. A special thanks to the contribution of Skip La Plante’s exotics instruments rescued from the streets of New York City, as well as to the fine direction of Gines-Didier Cano.”

I had the priviledge to be part of an exciting group of musicians dedicated to new ways to look upon tone perceptions.

Thank you again Johnny.