Simon Desbruslais returns to disc on Signum with an album that continues to expand the repertoire of the trumpet even further, with four new commissions for trumpet, piano and string orchestra.

Toby Young’s The Art of Dancing is described by the composer as being ‚a modern homage to the baroque suite”, drawing inspiration from modern dance music styles including Acid House, Garage and Drum & Bass. Geoffrey Gordon’s Saint Blue is inspired by the visionary artist Wassily Kandinsky, creating a double concerto  jazz-inspired cadenza featuring trumpet, piano and double bass. Deborah Pritchard’s Seven Halts on the Somme responds to the series of oil paintings by artist Hughie O’Donoghue depicting seven stopping points for British troops during the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest conflicts of the First World War. Finally, Nimrod Borenstein’s Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and String Orchestra juxtaposes rhythms to create a multiplicity of different atmospheres in this highly effective and powerful work.

For these première recordings Simon Desbruslais performs with pianist Clare Hammond, accompanied by the English
String Orchestra under Kenneth Woods.