The Trumpet Sounds album featuring Randy Lee is reviewed by the International Trumpet Guild Journal and reads as follows:
The Trumpet Sounds is a choral CD that features trumpeter Randolph Lee in two contemporary choral works and on the Hovhaness's Prayer of Saint Gregory for trumpet and organ. Conductor Anthony Maglione adeptly describes the role of the trumpet in this CD: "The trumpet, masterfully woven throughout the CD, acts as an anchor sometimes pulling us more deeply into the music and at other tomes proclaiming loudly the very soul of our humanity." Trumpeter Randolph Lee is assistant professor of trumpet at the University of Florida. His exceptional performance on this CD demonstrates the full range of emotional intensity and styles required in these three works. Ian David Coleman's The Trumpet Sounds Within-a My Soul is a wonderful composition that begins with the solo trumpet, and the choir subtly surrounds the trumpet sound. The trumpet remains a primary voice throughout this work with an effective use of mutes and tonal colors that intertwine with the choir. The composer describes the trumpet as, "the inner 'soul' of the African-American while the choir is the out-ward public face." Anthony Maglione's The Mystic Trumpeter is based on Walt Whitman's poem of the same name. This eight-movement cantata is written for choir, soloists, brass, percussion, organ, and solo trumpet, and the solo trumpet is featured in seven of the eight movements. The recording quality and performances are excellent throughout the CD. Lee performs the challenging solo passages in theses two choral works with a lyricism and ease of playing that blends easily with the voices. This CD is highly recommended; it is a true joy to hear the trumpet featured prominently in a choral setting. (Jon Burgess, associate professor of music, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX)
