Nick Etheridge’s previous three albums have all been elaborate collaborations with composers and performers under his ‘Tubagility’ banner, projecting his vision of the modern tuba and music that is challenging and perhaps sometimes unexpected. These projects are a labour of love, hugely satisfying, and always an enormous challenge to bring them safely from conception to completion.

This new album is different and is unashamedly a project of specially commissioned solo concerto works for tuba. 'Diversity' is a grand title for a substantial work with dramatic connotations and a powerful and flexible musical form of many shapes and guises. Ultimately it’s a platform for conversation between soloist and accompanying group. Between the interwoven and distinctly individual pieces he has created an interesting as well as contrasting dialogue.

The musical journey begins with a large and traditionally structured piece for British Brass Band and ends worlds apart in an eclectic ‘Definite Damage’ Concerto. Sandwiched between these musical bookends are the hypnotic Pads and Riffs for ten tubas.

Diversity, a 'Concerto in one Movement' is extremely demanding for the soloist and highly 'tongue in cheek'.

To conclude, Simon Dobson's 'deconstructed' Concerto showcases the tuba within a contemporary landscape with wild and virtuosic outer movements that contrast sharply with the intimate solo music within the heart of the piece. The breadth of contemporary styles employed is a breath-taking rollercoaster ride to bring the album to a close.