Ecstatic in Dallas
Jerry Junkin and the UT Wind Ensemble just blew the doors off the Meyerson with Ecstatic Waters tonight. Holy cow. I’ve been extraordinarily fortunate to have had such time with, and access to, one of the very top wind ensembles in the nation, if not the world, and am infinitely grateful to Maestro Junkin for taking on the challenge of this work. I can’t WAIT to do this again at CBDNA here in Austin on March 27th!
The whole concert was smokin’ – Sunil was once again spectacular on the Bolcom (which is a piece I’m really growing to like – I’d never heard it before last week). And of course John Mackey’s Kingfishers Catch Fire closed in excellent fashion – the antiphonal trumpets are satisfying as hell. I think it’s the perfect closer for a concert – it sort of cleanses the palette with a huge dose of extra-happy at the end of an evening of ups and downs, and leaves everyone full of joy. Also, I can’t get the tune out of my head – it’s been replaying constantly for the 3 hour drive back to Austin tonight. Thanks for that ear worm, Mackey…
Now, it’s time for a couple of hours of sleep, and then V and I have an early morning flight to Tokyo, for the JWECC premiere of Axis Mundi…